Original Infinity Art Glass / Scott Hartley "5-Piece Threaded Nexus"

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Scott Hartley is a master American glassblower and the founder of Infinity Art Glass, a widely recognized studio and gallery … Read more Scott Hartley is a master American glassblower and the founder of Infinity Art Glass, a widely recognized studio and gallery operating out of Benton, Kansas. Blending a rigorous background in science with an inherited passion for fine art, Hartley creates intricate, fluid glass sculptures that are sold in approximately 90 galleries worldwide.

From Biology to the Hot Shop

Hartley’s path to becoming a full-time artist was highly unconventional:
-The Academic Background: He graduated as high school Valedictorian and attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. He played on the collegiate basketball team and graduated with a degree in Biology and Secondary Education, originally intending to go to medical school.
-The Teaching Career: Pivoting to education to make a direct impact on others, he spent several years working as a high school biology teacher at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita.
-The Artistic Shift: Though he loved teaching, Hartley felt an immense creative void. Inheriting an artistic spark from his parents, he discovered glassblowing and realized it was the ultimate intersection of his two passions: the aesthetics of art and the physical laws of science. In 1999, he left his teaching career behind to pursue glass art full-time.

Crafting Infinity Art Glass
In late 2003, Scott and his wife, Gwen, purchased a historic 1930s-era blacksmith shop in the small town of Benton, Kansas. They painstakingly renovated the "fixer-upper" into Infinity Art Glass, building a dedicated hot shop, cold working shop, and public gallery space under one roof.

Hartley’s artistic style relies heavily on his scientific roots:
-Custom Chemistry: Unlike many modern glassblowers who buy pre-made glass batches, Hartley mixes his own raw elements—combining sand, soda ash, and chemical stabilizers—directly in his 2,000-degree Fahrenheit furnace. This allows him to minutely manipulate the chemical formulas so the molten material stays fluid exactly when and how he needs it.
-Dynamic Fluidity: Using a traditional blowpipe, Hartley shapes everything entirely by hand. His work is intentionally designed to capture the frozen motion of liquid glass, giving finished pieces a flexible, organic appearance that mimics movement.
-Signature Forms: While he began his career crafting small paperweights and ornaments, his portfolio has evolved into large-scale, complex sculptures. He is best known for his "Eternity" knots, vibrant "Nautilus" swirls, and twisting lattice designs that often incorporate colorful dichroic glass accents.

Gallery Representation
Today, Scott Hartley is a prominent fixture in the American craft circuit. His custom sculptures are showcased nationally through major glass repositories, including the Reuben Saunders Gallery in Kansas, the Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art in Sedona, and the T Clifton Gallery in Memphis. See less