Owner: Warren Norgaard

Studio Description

Named “Best Place to Make Art” in Phoenix for four consecutive years, Milkweed Arts is one of the leading kilnformed glass education studios and creative spaces in the United States.

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Milkweed Arts is a 3,000+ square foot creative space housing a full-service kilnformed glass studio, retail supply center, classrooms, coldworking area, and open studio environment designed to support artists at every stage of their creative journey. Whether you’re a first-time fuser, a traveling artist needing firing space, or an experienced professional looking for a supportive creative community, our goal is to create an environment that feels welcoming, collaborative, and inspiring rather than intimidating.

As a Bullseye Glass Preferred Partner, we host workshops year-round with local, nationally, and internationally recognized instructors while also maintaining an active open studio community where local artists regularly gather to create, experiment, and share ideas.

Our studio has become known not only for technical education, but also for fostering a warm, community-centered atmosphere where artists are encouraged to explore, troubleshoot, and grow together. We believe creative spaces should feel welcoming, encouraging, and genuinely human, and we’ve worked hard to build a studio community that reflects that philosophy.

Milkweed Arts has been serving the glass community for over a decade and offers kiln rentals, open studio access, coldworking equipment, retail supplies, and educational opportunities all under one roof.

Kiln Rentals & Firing Information

We offer multiple kiln sizes for projects ranging from small jewelry and ornament firings to large format kilnformed panels and sculptural work.

Available firing types include:

• Full fuse
• Tack fuse
• Slumping
• Drop-out work
• Casting
• Powder printing/enamel firings

Kiln rentals are available for:

• Local artists working from home
• Open studio participants
• Traveling artists
• Independent instructors
• Production artists needing overflow firing capacity

Staff assistance with kiln programming and troubleshooting is available if needed, and artists are welcome to schedule firings independently or as part of open studio use.

Pricing begins at $15 per firing, and around here, even the kilns have personalities:

• Lil Michelangeglow
  From $15/firing
  16”x16” fiber shelf with clay shelves available
  TAP2 Controller
• Frida Kilno
  From $50/firing
  24”x50” fiber shelf with clay shelves available
  TAP2 Controller
• Gustav Kilnt
  From $50/firing
  24”x50” fiber shelf with clay shelves available
  TAP2 Controller
• Vincent Van Glow
  From $50/firing
  24”x50” fiber shelf with clay shelves available
  TAP2 Controller

Studio Amenities

Milkweed Arts offers a fully equipped workspace for kilnformed glass artists, including:

• Access to an onsite retail store featuring Bullseye Glass, Unique Glass Colors enamels, tools, molds, and kilnforming supplies
• Dedicated coldworking area
• Glass cutting stations
• Grinders
• Ring saws
• Tile saws
• Light tables
• Sandblasting equipment
• Lap wheels
• Digital scales
• Specialty molds and studio tools
• Retail glass and supply access onsite
• Bullseye Glass products
• Unique Glass Colors enamels and supplies
• Flexible open studio workspace
• Community worktables
• Shared studio environment

Open studio artists also have access to a creative and supportive community atmosphere where artists frequently share ideas, techniques, and encouragement.

Workshops & Education

Milkweed Arts hosts workshops throughout the year with nationally and internationally recognized instructors covering a wide variety of kilnformed glass techniques, including:

• Kilnforming fundamentals
• Enameling
• Reverse painting
• Pattern bar
• Casting
• Coldworking
• Pâte de verre
• Powder techniques
• Surface design
• Contemporary kilnformed sculpture

We believe education should feel approachable, encouraging, and creatively energizing, and our workshops are designed to support both technical growth and artistic exploration.

Traveling Artists Welcome

Traveling through Phoenix and need firing space or studio access? We’re always happy to help accommodate visiting artists whenever possible.

Whether you need a quick firing, temporary workspace, or simply want to connect with the local glass community, we’d love to welcome you to Milkweed Arts.