Artist Presentation: Jen Elek & Jeremy Bert
Join Pilchuck Glass School for a special presentation from Seattle-based artists, Jen Elek and Jeremy Bert on February 5 during next month's First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. Jen and Jeremy will discuss their recent projects, including their permanent installation at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as well as their exhibition during Pilchuck's third annual Light the Forest event.
This presentation will give you a window into the fascinating world of glass, and the artists that make Pilchuck Glass School the place where the glass world comes together.
Jen Elek is a studio artist and educator based in Seattle, Washington. Through immersive installations composed of blown glass, steel, and neon, Elek explores themes of human connection and community. Her vibrant work highlights the physical and symbolic properties of her materials—their ability to reflect, magnify, and radiate bold color and emotion.
Elek earned her BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, she became an integral part of the Northwest arts community after relocating to Seattle in 1995.
An active and respected presence in the international glassblowing community, Elek has taught workshops around the world, including at the Sydney College of the Arts, JamFactory in Adelaide, Australia, Hilltop Artists, the Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, UrbanGlass in New York, and The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass. She has also served as a visiting lecturer at Jacksonville University (FL) and the University of Washington (Seattle).
Elek has worked alongside many notable artists and spent 15 years as a key member of Lino Tagliapietra’s glassblowing team. Her artistic contributions have been recognized through residencies at institutions including the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and UrbanGlass in Brooklyn. Jen serves on the board of Pilchuck Glass School.
Jen shares a Seattle-based studio with her husband and frequent collaborator, Jeremy Bert. Together, they recently completed a permanent public installation titled The Illuminated Palouse for the Port of Seattle, located near the D gates at SeaTac International Airport.
Jen Elek is represented by Traver Gallery in Seattle, Washington.
Jeremy Bert is a Seattle-based artist working primarily with electric light, neon, and manipulated reclaimed signage. Originally from Montana, he developed an early interest in ceramics, which led him to the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, where he earned his BFA in 1994.
In 1995, Jeremy moved to Seattle, WA, where he has worked for over 20 years as a licensed sign electrician, certified welder, crane operator, and light project designer. He has taught neon workshops at Pilchuck Glass School (Stanwood, WA), UrbanGlass (New York, NY), and Penland School of Craft (Penland, NC).
Jeremy’s work is included in both public and private collections. He has exhibited at institutions such as the Museum of Neon Art (Los Angeles, CA), Jenkins Johnson Gallery (San Francisco, CA & New York, NY), Traver Gallery (Seattle, WA), and the Museum of Glass (Tacoma, WA). His piece Transient Light Graffiti is part of the permanent collection at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (PA).
A core element of Jeremy’s practice is a commitment to reuse and transformation. By re-appropriating the discarded materials of the sign industry, he reclaims commercial waste and reimagines it as meaningful, community-enriching sculpture.
Jeremy and his wife, artist Jen Elek, maintain a home studio in South Seattle where they work collaboratively with neon, clay, and steel. Jeremy and Jen recently completed a commission for the Port of Seattle at SEATAC airport located near the D gates.
Jeremy is represented by Traver Gallery in Seattle, WA.