Andrew Madvin

International glass artist Andrew Madvin was inspired to pursue a creative career as a junior at Groves High School when he took an elective metals and jewelry class.

“I loved the work, the creating and the hands-on designing,” he said, adding, “I didn’t grow up in a family of artists, so this was a new path for me.”

For the remainder of high school, Madvin took as many related classes as possible and won several Scholastic Awards. With a teacher’s urging, he took an Art 101 class in his senior year, which allowed him to prepare a portfolio that led to a scholarship at College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit.

During his time at CCS, he found part-time employment as well as a creative and business mentor in another Groves alumnus, Brendan Sherwood, an artist and owner of Elements Hand Crafted Custom Jewelry in Royal Oak.

“I learned a lot from jewelry but ended up abandoning it as a format and career when I discovered the medium of glass. I developed a love of glass and consider it large-scale jewelry for adorning the home or an architectural space,” he explained.

Madvin furthered his fine arts glass studies at California College of the Arts in Oakland-San Francisco and Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington.

In 2000, after college, Madvin founded Axiom Glass in Detroit and soon involved his younger brother, Robert, who ended up studying fine arts glass design at CCS and the University of Hawaii. The younger Madvin has since become a successful independent glass artist, and the brothers continue to work together in the same studio space.

“I love being a studio artist. I enjoy glass and the process of working with it. I’m drawn to the fire, the movement and manipulation of the glass anticipating what it will do, and the qualities of light. I look to enhance the glass and let it tell its own story – allowing the bubbles and pouring to show in the creation of a beautiful piece of glass.”

Several years ago, Axiom Glass relocated to a large showroom, gallery and studio in Royal Oak that is open to the public and hosts events including those with a hands-on glass experience. Axiom sells their celebrated glass designs in the United States and globally. Locally, they work with organizations such as Dearborn’s The Henry Ford, which has an enviable glass collection as well as a 19th century-inspired glass shop in Greenfield Village.

“Glass is a playful material, and I want to share it with everyone,” he said.

Madvin said his glass art is greatly influenced by nature and his lifelong curiosity of the natural world. This can be seen in his decorative collections celebrating botanicals, stones, stars and thorns. In addition to beautiful artistic glass designs, his studio also produces other glass items such as stunning custom architectural lighting, beverage ware, vases and tabletops.

The Birmingham resident is married to his high school sweetheart, Dr. Hanit Kalo, a pediatrician at Bloom Pediatrics in Birmingham. They share two daughters who, according to Madvin, are creative in different ways – one is a dancer while the other is hands-on creative like him.

Madvin relishes adventure sports and considers himself a bit of a thrill seeker: “I welcome and engage danger and ‘playing with fire.’ I was always the kid at the top of the tree or edge of the cliff.”

The founder, artist and designer also enjoys passing on his knowledge to employees and young people interested in creative fields. “I encourage them to be original. It can be hard but if you want to be successful as an artist or designer your work needs to tell your story. You also need to work hard, network and be extremely dedicated and resourceful. Take risks and surround yourself with good people…I’ve been doing this for 30 years and still love it.”

Story: Tracy Donohue

Photo: Laurie Tennent