MitchBedke
Solid glass, melted into a mold and cooled over days, so the color sits inside the piece and the light has to travel through it to reach you.
Cast glass is not blown. It is melted into a mold inside a kiln and comes out solid, so the color sits in layers through the body of the piece rather than on its surface. Hold one to a window and the light has to travel the whole way through before it reaches you.
- 01 Kiln casting
- 02 Glass fusing
- 03 Painting on glass
- 04 Cold working
Nine
pieces
Every piece is fired on its own, and the titles and prices are his. Open any of them to see it at full size.
- Cast Glass Star fish
Molten
to solid
Four stages, and the slow one is the one that matters.
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01Build the mold
Every piece starts as a model. A plaster and silica mold is built around it, then the model is steamed out, leaving the space the glass will fill.
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02Fill and fire
Colored glass is loaded into the mold and taken up to casting heat in the kiln, where it softens and runs into every part of the cavity.
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03Cool slowly
Thick glass has to come down over days rather than hours. Rush the anneal and the piece cracks — often weeks later, once it is already on a wall.
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04Cold-work and finish
Breaking away the mold, then grinding, polishing and mounting. This is where most of the hours go, and none of it shows in the finished piece.
Mitch Bedke
A glass fusing class at the Kimball Art Center in 2010, and he did not stop. Fusing led to slumping, slumping to painting with enamels, then to casting large sculpture — which is where most of the studio time goes now.
The subjects come from outside. Trout and sardines, Buddha heads, and lately the ridgelines of the Wasatch cast in glass from molds he builds himself. He is the president of the Park City Artists Association.
“Everyone is an artist; you just haven't found your medium.”— Mitch Bedke
Go and find it
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Park City Kimball Arts Festival
Juried artist, 2025 — booth C069 on Main Street.
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Art Fair Jackson Hole
Exhibiting artist every year from 2023 to 2026.
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CREATE PC
Listed among the 2026 fine artists at the Arts Council collective, 1500 Kearns Blvd, Park City.
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Park City Artists Association
Mitch is the association's president.
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Pilchuck Glass School
Studied under Narcissus Quagliata, one of thirteen students selected from around six hundred applicants.
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Glass Art Guild of Utah
Listed member artist.
Good to know
What is the difference between cast glass and blown glass?
Blown glass is shaped with air while it is molten, so it comes out hollow and light. Cast glass is melted into a mold inside a kiln and comes out solid. That thickness is the point — color sits in layers through the body of the piece and the light travels through it rather than bouncing off the surface.
Can I visit the studio in Park City?
Yes, by appointment. Weekdays 9am to 5pm, weekends by arrangement. Call or email first to fix a time.
How much does a glass sculpture cost?
Smaller cast fish are the least expensive pieces and the larger fish, Buddha heads and figures run up to around $1,200. Commissions are quoted individually, because size, subject and complexity all move the number.
Do you take commissions?
Yes. Email Mitch with what you have in mind, the size you need, and where the piece will hang or sit. He will come back with a price and a timeline before anything starts.
How long does a commissioned piece take?
It depends on the piece. Kiln casting is slow work — a thick casting has to anneal for days before it can be ground and polished, and each one is fired on its own. You get a timeline with the quote.
Do you ship glass sculptures?
Yes, pieces ship from the Park City studio. Ask about shipping when you inquire and it will be quoted with the piece.
How do I clean and care for a glass sculpture?
Dust it with a soft dry cloth. For marks, use a mild glass cleaner on a lint-free cloth. Keep abrasives away from it entirely, and avoid sudden temperature changes — thick glass does not like thermal shock.
Where can I see the work in person?
At CREATE PC on Kearns Boulevard in Park City, and at shows through the year including the Park City Kimball Arts Festival and Art Fair Jackson Hole. Or make an appointment and come to the studio.
See it
in person
Glass photographs badly. Book a studio visit in Park City, or ask about a commission.