Just as a glassblower breathes life into molten glass, Joe Grant has spent his career doing the same for the communities in which he finds himself. A longtime working artist and creative leader, Joe’s life has been shaped by craft, collaboration, and the belief that art can transform communities in small and large ways.
Joe’s journey with the medium began 29 years ago in his hometown of Champaign, Illinois. Joe was introduced to glassblowing as a college freshman. The first time he walked into the studio and saw the furnace, he was mesmerized by what looked to him like a giant flaming dragon. Feeling glass transform from liquid to solid further seduced him. “Alchemical magic,” Joe calls it
Once hooked, the camaraderie kept him there. Much like the bands he played in growing up, glassmaking requires a team, in which everyone knows the same language and plays together in harmony, to bring a piece of art to life – often before a captive audience.
Joe continued honing his skills over the years, studying and teaching at prestigious art schools, before landing at Starworks in 2013.
Since joining the team, he has witnessed a massive expansion, transforming a once-empty 150,000 square feet hosiery mill into a global destination for glass, ceramics, and metal fabrication.
Joe makes the daily drive from his home in Greensboro down to the small rural town of Star, NC where Starworks has become an unexpected center of world-class artmaking, bringing cultural access to an eager community that typically would not have such a facility.
In 2025, Joe stepped into the role of Executive Director of Starworks, marking a new chapter in his creative journey. Leadership has brought its own demands but also offers a new kind of freedom – the ability to think beyond the next project and shape the conditions that allow art to flourish. Joe hasn’t left his own art behind but now returns to it with personal intention.
“Glassblowing is physically hard,” Joe notes. “I’m lucky I get to blow glass for myself now… when I get the chance.” In his latest personal projects, he has begun integrating light directly into his work. This evolution was sparked by his wife, Tracy Greene, a textile designer, and their young daughter who provided the final push: “Why don’t you weave glass?”
From that spark, Joe incorporated colored glass tubes into tapestries designed by Tracy. The process was both challenging and rewarding for the couple. However, a technical hurdle emerged as the pieces came together. Joe initially used inexpensive LED strips, but the light did not illuminate the center like he’d hoped. To make these pieces truly come to life, he needed a higher quality light source.
An Artist Support Grant from The ACGG enabled Joe to upgrade his materials to match his vision. He incorporated premium LED light panels, highlighting the intricacies of the glass he wrought. The grant supported Joe’s artistic iteration, which can be difficult to prioritize in a busy leadership role. But these discoveries, setbacks, and successes are essential for an artist’s growth. Professional development does not stop once an artist reaches a certain level of visibility.
Especially when their work has helped create access and opportunity for others. Joe serves, essentially, as a creative ambassador. His work has reinvigorated communities, bringing world-class art and cultural energy into a space that was long ago the economic heartbeat of the town.
Today, Starworks continues to grow as both a working studio and gathering place. As Joe balances the weight of leadership with the freedom of creation, he continues to help shape what’s possible for artists and audiences alike.
Whether making functional glass objects or evolving his new series of textile and light, Joe is proving that art can be both personal and expansive, and powerful enough to move a community forward.
