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Stephen Glassman first came to international attention while creating large-scale bamboo installations in urban sites devastated in the wake of the Rodney King Riots, Malibu Fires and Northridge Quake. These works became local symbols of resiliency as well as a springboard for the permanent, monumental public works he creates today.

Deaf and unable to speak as a child, Glassman seized art as a means of communication and self-expression. He went on to receive his BFA from SUNY Purchase and spent years traveling the country as a circus and street artist. In 1979 he settled in Venice, CA where the neighborhood alleys were dotted with the studios of Dennis Hopper, Ed Rusha, and Black Flag. Glassman was drawn to Venice’s sun baked landscape of dilapidated piers, cracked bleached concrete, fallen fences, and vast horizons – a remote outpost on the edge of Los Angeles and a hidden hub of creativity that would become known as Dogtown – the epicenter of modern skateboard culture. It was here that Glassman’s signature work took root – pulled directly from the urban landscape.  Often formidable in scale, Glassman’s work is noted for how it “dazzles in slo-motion (and) creates a bracing, humanist kind of spectacle … that actually draws the viewer into the frame instead of alienating” (David Cotner, LA Weekly).

Significant projects by Glassman include an eight story sculpture for architect Bjarke Ingels’ (BIG) torqued pyramidal skyscraper (currently under construction on Manhattan’s West 57th street); a 4,000 square foot sculpture plaza for the LNR Warner Center in Los Angeles; Arkansas’ Southeast Shear (an NEA/ White House Millennium commission), the Sylvia Campuan Bridge in Indonesia; “Thornton Creek” in Seattle; Calgary’s “Frozen River”; Port of Los Angeles master plan and more. These projects have involved the collaboration of designers and builders including BIG, Arup, The Durst Organization, Eric Owen Moss, Steinberg Architects, Sasaki, Miller Hull, and more.

Much of Stephen’s practice has evolved from a creative and collaborative foundation in the theatre. He has worked with artists, directors, and venues including Moscow Circus, Phillipe Petit, Perry Farrell, Jonathan Borofsky, Nels Cline, Robert Wilson, Paris Opera, Los Angeles Music Center, Getty Museum, Olympic Arts Festival, Los Angeles Festival, Bread and Puppet Theatre, and more. Glassman’s public work has been included in the syllabi of classes at colleges and universities including Vassar, Syracuse, and Bard, and featured in the Lincoln Center Institute’s program on “Aesthetic Education.” Glassman’s design for “Urban Air” — a sculpture that transforms billboards into intelligently networked, floating bamboo gardens – has been the subject of over 21,000 blogs and articles, downloaded over 150,000 times on every continent, and has received over 600,000 hits on Google.

Glassman is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including the National Endowment for the Arts, Nathan Cummings Foundation, London International Creativity Award, LA Cultural Endowment, and a 2000 Chrysler Design Award nomination. His private studio work has been collected and exhibited nationally and internationally. Published reviews have appeared in Art in America, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Village Voice, Artweek, Landscape Architecture, Huffington Post, International Herald Tribune, Wired, NPR, National Geographic, and more.

Stephen Glassman still lives and works in Los Angeles with his wife – critically acclaimed director/choreographer Sarah Elgart – and their two daughters.

SELECT EXHIBITIONS, COMMISSIONS, INSTALLATIONS

2024 — Arcane Space, Solo Exhibition, Los Angeles
2024 — Galerie Born, Group Show, Berlin, Germany
2024 — Resistance. And Then . . . Public commission, City of Sacramento. 45' permanent sculpture and trail gateway sitework for 50-acre civic park entrance
2023 — Flows Two Ways monograph MOMA / Franklin Furnace Artists' Books Archive
2023 — 7 Chandeliers, Venice, CA
2018–20 — Open Air. Repurposed billboards as intelligent bamboo gardens. A global multiple currently beginning in LA, with partnerships underway in India and NYC
2017 — Brand 45, Brand Library, LA. Works on Paper, curated by Leslie Jones, Works-on-Paper Curator, LACMA. Group show
2017 — Ghost Story. 8-minute site-specific film shot entirely at VIA 57 West, NYC. Architecture by Bjarke Ingels, Fashion by Issey Miyake, Directed by Sarah Elgart. Presented at: Cannes International Film Festival, NYC Design and Architecture, Berlin Fashion, San Francisco Dance, and Dance Camera West Film Festivals
2015–16 — Flows Two Ways. 8-story permanent outdoor sculpture, VIA 57 West, NYC. Commissioned by The Durst Organization. Architect: Bjarke Ingels
2014 — Dos Picos. Public sculpture commission, LA. Commissioned by LA County Arts Commission
2014 — Ten Ton Drawing. Private commission, Canada
2014 — Reprogramming Cities, Danish Architecture Centre, Copenhagen. Group show
2013 — Everywhere Nowhere. LAX installation/performance, LA. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
2013 — Transforming Boston, Society of Architects, Boston, MA. Infrastructure group show
2011 — Fly Away Home, Los Angeles International Airport, Van Nuys Satellite Transit Station. Performance/installation. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
2010 — Thornton Creek. Public sculpture commission, City of Seattle. International competition
2008 — Santa Monica College Master Plan Design Team, Steinberg Architects
2007–9 — Whitetail Plaza. Public sculpture commission, LNR Warner Center, LA
2007 — Sh'me'. Sculpture commission, San Diego Botanic Gardens
2006 — Port of Los Angeles Master Plan Design Team, with Sasaki Associates
2004 — SK8I80. Permanent public sculpture, Salt Lake City, Utah
2002 — Nohara. Temporary public sitework, City of West Hollywood, CA
2000 — Southeast Shear. NEA Millennium Fellowship Commission, Pine Bluff, AR
1999–00 — Onisaburo, Interfaith Center of New York, NYC
1997 — Fear of Night, Moscow Circus, Tokyo. Performance collaboration
1996–97 — Crescendo, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC. Performance collaboration with Philippe Petit
1996 — Turning Plows, Atlanta Olympics, King Plow Art Center
1996 — War/Was. Temporary bamboo public sitework. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
1996 — Arms. Temporary bamboo public sitework, LA. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
1996 — Cathedral. Temporary bamboo public sitework, LA. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
1996 — The Hood. Temporary bamboo public sitework, LA. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
1995 — Sylvia Campuan Bridge, Ubud, Bali. Permanent bamboo and concrete pedestrian bridge
1994 — Ginko. Temporary bamboo public sitework, LA. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
1994 — Dreamcatcher. Temporary bamboo public sitework, LA. Commissioned by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs
1993 — Antwerpen 93. Temporary bamboo and ice public sitework, Antwerp, Belgium
1990 — Zoo, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CA
1990 — American Artists, Inoue Gallery, Osaka, Japan. Group show
1990 — Systems, Barnsdall Municipal Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
1989 — Future Fossils, Laguna Art Museum, Costa Mesa, CA. Solo exhibition
1989 — Frozen Precedents, Thomas Solomon's Garage, Los Angeles, CA. Solo exhibition
1989 — Abundance, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC. Installation and performance collaboration
1988 — Motion Pictures, Piezo Electric Gallery, LA. Solo exhibition
1987–88 — Breaking Through the Looking Glass, Holly Solomon Gallery, NYC / Fahey Klein Gallery, LA. Group show
1987 — Social Spaces, Artists' Space, NYC. Group show
1985 — Sculpture, White Columns Gallery, NYC. Solo exhibition

SELECT AWARDS, HONORS, GRANTS

2025 — Getty / CCI Fire Relief Grant
2020 — Artist of the Month, artjobs.com
2019 — International BUILD Award: Best Interdisciplinary Art and Architecture Studio
2011 — London International Creativity Award
2010 — AIA Los Angeles Chapter, Next LA Design Awards
2010 — The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design / The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, American Architecture Awards (as artist on Steinberg Architects Design Team for Santa Monica College)
2007 — AIA SF Award for Excellence in Urban Design
2001 — American Society of Landscape Architects Award of Honor (as artist on Sasaki Master Plan Team for Port of Los Angeles)
2001 — Chrysler Design Award nominee
2000–01 — Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Endowment Award
1999–00 — NEA / White House Millennium Fellowship
1996–97 — Nathan Cummings Foundation
1994–96 — Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Endowment Award
1993 — Antwerpen 93 — represented LA at the European Cultural Capital Festival
1990 — Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Endowment Award
1990 — Santa Monica Arts Commission
1990 — NEA / Santa Monica Museum of Art
1989 — California Arts Council
1985 — NEA / White Columns, NYC

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nys Dambrot, Shana. "Stephen Glassman: Murmur." 13ThingsLA, December 2024
Menking, William. "Flows Two Ways." Architects Newspaper, September 2016
Perkovic, Jana. "Stephen Glassman Creates…" Blouin Artinfo, July 2016
Azzarello, Nina. "Stephen Glassman… at BIG's…" Designboom, July 2016
Delaney, Ella. "Crowdfunding Finds Creative…" NY Times / International Herald Tribune, June 2013
Gropman, Adam. "Stephen Glassman…" LA Weekly, April 2013
Knoll, Corina. "Artist Aims to Transform…" LA Times, November 2012
Stambler, Deborah. "Democracy of Air." Huffington Post, November 2012
Motzkin, Lauren. "Verdant Billboards." Guggenheim Lab, November 2012
Stone, Dan. "Signs of Change…" National Geographic, December 2012
Newcomb, Tim. Dwell Magazine, October 2011
Newcomb, Tim. "Fire and Rain." Landscape Architecture Magazine, May 2011
Easton, Valerie. "…Fire Station and…" Seattle Times, December 4, 2010
"…Complex to Retreat." Art Daily, December 22, 2009
Cotner, David. "Woodland Hills? Yes —" LA Weekly, June 11, 2009
"White Tail Plaza." Landscape Architecture Magazine, August 2009
Klein, Deborah. "America Creates…" NEA National Catalogue, 2004
Goldman, Edward. "Public Art in WeHo." KCRW, May 7, 2002
Pagel, David. "Edges and Hedges." Los Angeles Times, May 12, 2002
Curatorial survey. "2000 in Review." Art in America, August 2001
Broadwater, Lisa. "Stix and Stones." Arkansas Democrat Gazette, November 5, 2000
Peacock, Leslie Newell. "21st Century Bridge." Arkansas Times, August 18, 2000
Young, Emily. "Poles Apart." LA Times Magazine, April 10, 2000
"LA Antwerp Project." LA Times, April 5, 1993
Greenstein, E.M. "Miracle at Hoover…" Artweek, June 1992
Albertano, Linda. "Zoo." High Performance, Winter 1990
Snow, Shauna. "Stephen Glassman…" LA Times, May 5, 1990
O'Brien, John. "Between Man and…" Artweek, December 28, 1990
Somer, Sally. "Abundance." Village Voice, November 1989
Smith, Roberta. "Social Spaces." New York Times, 1988
Black, Ezra Jean. "Phantom Limbs." LA Weekly, March 11, 1988
Konno, Yuichi. "Stephen Glassman." Wave, July 1987 (Japan)
Tanney, Cathy. "Houdini Rediscovered." Artweek, February 1987
Berman-Enn, Beatte. "Traveling Energy." Artscene, March 1987

TEACHING | ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

2010–11 — Board of Trustees, Rail CA — Director of Cultural Programming
Rail CA is a 501(c)3 created through a collaboration of the AIA and APA to foster the earliest and deepest integration of high-concept design with fundamental transit planning and engineering for LA's $47 billion high-speed rail development.

2001–04 — Founder, Board of Trustees, Ocean Charter School
Co-created from concept to turnkey LAUSD's first Waldorf methods, arts-integrated K–8 public elementary charter school.

2001 — Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Upper-level architectural seminar: Art, Landscape, and Community — Reclaiming the LA River. Taught in collaboration with landscape architect Sasha Tarnopolsky and architect Mark Rios.

2000 — Artist in Residence, Arts and Science Center of Southeast Arkansas — "America Creates for the Millennium"
Commissioned by the White House Millennium Council (Hillary Clinton, Honorary Chair) and the National Endowment for the Arts. Nine-month residency to conceive and create a community-generated artwork. Collaboratively reclaimed a derelict historic waterfront to create a permanent freeform structural central plaza, including renovation of an 1877 cast iron industrial facade, an artificial river, landscaping, and infrastructure. Nominated for a 2000 Chrysler Design Award.

1996 — Artist in Residence, Venice Skill Center, LA Unified

1990–95 — Artist in Residence, Production Designer, Technical Director, La Boca Performance Space, Sunshine Mission Casa de Rosas, Los Angeles
Funded by City of LA Cultural Affairs Dept., California Arts Council, and the NEA. Led renovation of a historic homeless mission chapel into a dance theatre. Created and produced site-specific and touring production designs for MADRES, a movement performance ensemble of transitional homeless women created and directed by choreographer Sarah Elgart. Over five years, MADRES performed at national and international festivals including Los Angeles, NYC, Washington DC, and Antwerp, Belgium.

1995 — Sylvia Campuan Bridge, Ubud, Bali
Designed and built a permanent structural pedestrian bridge commissioned by the Environmental Bamboo Foundation. Bridge spanned a 35' gorge serving nearly 5,000 people its inaugural weekend, connecting two villages to temple property and a bamboo forest. Structural engineer: Oscar Hidalgo.

1995 — Artist in Residence, African American Unity Tri C Continuation High School. Sponsored by the HeArt Project.

1994 — Artist in Residence, Watts Elementary School in collaboration with Cities in Schools. Commissioned by the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs.

1993–95 — "Mushrooms." Commissioned by the City of Los Angeles
A series of freeform bamboo installations created with homeless and disenfranchised youth in devastated urban sites following the Rodney King Riots, Malibu Fires, and Northridge Quake.

1991 — Guest Artist, Chino Men's Prison

1990 — Artist in Residence, Virginia Park, sponsored by Santa Monica Arts Foundation
Artist in Residence, CLARE Foundation, Santa Monica

1989 — Artist in Residence, Nelles Juvenile Detention Center, Whittier, CA. Sponsored by Artsreach