Leaf Glass Special 2026: CMoG Flame Collab

The Corning Museum of Glass in New York has stood as the repository for the most important contributions to the art of glassblowing since 1951. The museum holds thousands of pieces, dating from ancient civilizations to the work of contemporary artists pushing the field in new directions. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that CMoG acquired its first piece of smokable glassware.

Many superhumans of pipe making have visited CMoG to share the finer points of their craft at the now-annual CMoG Flame Collab. Museum manager of hot glass operations Eric Goldschmidt told the Leaf that the Flame Collab came about as a way “to celebrate the artistry and innovation of the flameworking community.” He mentioned how the last 15 years have seen a rapid acceleration of the craft, especially through the collaborative pieces, adding, “much of which has been stirred by artists creating innovative objects for Cannabis consumption.”

Goldschmidt added that “the CMoG Flame Collab has proven to be a resounding success in its first four years, with incredible works brought to life by a few of the top artists in the field.”

The event will return for its fifth year in May 2026, inviting a team of artists to spend a week at the museum’s Amphitheater Hot Shop. During that time, the group is challenged to melt their respective styles and visions together, creating one cohesive, sculptural piece. When asked how they choose their artists, Goldschmidt said the team at CMoG works each year to identify an individual with a strong portfolio of collaboration work, and then, like a heist movie, asks them to name their two- to three-person dream team to pull off one epic job. That first year, Dan Coyle called in Adam Whobrey (Hoobs) and Ryan O’Keefe (Ryno) to create a futuristic piece dubbed “D-XG 2052.”

Since then, artists like Phil Seigel, Solfire, HicDogg, Darby and AKM have been invited to share their world-renowned techniques at CMoG. For 2026, CMoG is complementing its major exhibition on Women in the American Glass Studio with a team that Goldschmidt called “some of the strongest women in contemporary flameworking” to illustrate how this legacy remains alive and well. Goldschmidt excitedly revealed to the Leaf that the 2026 lineup includes host Sibelle “Sibelley” Yuksek, along with Adrienne “Babedrienne” DiSalvo and Nicole “ColdBerger” Berger. Glass fans who know DiSalvo’s intricate carvings or remember Yusek and Berger’s fire-spouting collaboration from Oregon’s 2023 DFO glass exhibition know that this will be one for the books.