Studio Art Glass Vase by NOUROT, Red Satin Series

Nourot Glass

Micheal Nourot, founding partner of Nourot Glass Studio has been making glass for over 40 years.  He was born January 1949 in Riverside, California, an Air Force kid with 7 siblings who moved several times as a child. Micheal graduated from the College of Arts and Crafts in 1972 where he started his studies in weaving and moved to glass art. He extended his stay at the college by teaching and met his future wife, Ann Corcoran, there. After graduation, Micheal was nominated as one of the first 16 students at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington.  He attended the first  “Session” fall/winter of 1971–72 and worked with founders Dale Chihuly and Jamie Carpenter to build the first hot shop at Pilchuck.  

Following the Pilchuck, he was hired and apprenticed to glass master Checo Ongaro at Venini, the largest and most successful art glass houses in Murano, Italy.  Just a handful of Americans were allowed into the famed Italian glass houses in the 1970’s: Dale Chihuly, Richard Marquis, and Benjamin Moore, included. (Formulas for the Nourot glass have their origins from this time.) Upon return to the US in 1973, Michel set up his first studio in San Francisco and after marrying Ann Corcoran in 1974, they moved to Benicia where the studio still operates. Ann had been a student of Marvin Lipofsky at the California College of Arts and Crafts and also has a degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. Michael and Ann collaborated on works throughout his career, producing many renown pieces for numerous clients and special venues throughout the works as well as producing their famous series “Red Satin” and Scarlet Nova”, the formulas’ for which are still family secrets inspired by Michael’s learning in Murano. The studio produced more than 1200 individual pieces including items for Presidents and the Pope. Michael Nourot died in 2015 and his son, Nicolas, continues to run the studio in Benicia, CA and make glass in the style of the family.