The monthly Short North Gallery Hop is this Saturday, and those who plan to attend the event may want to blow by The Cameo Gallery to view the glass art of Ohio State student Brian Becher.

Becher, a student in the OSU glass program, has examined the art of blowing glass for almost five years and has studied all over the country.

Becher became a skilled artist while learning the difficult and time consuming techniques of glass blowing at OSU. His unassuming personality and brilliant forte are reflected in his glass creations. He explores his interest in biology and the environment through the aqueous medium creating pieces of art which are insightful and beautiful to the eye.

The Ohio native, who is slated to graduate this winter, began his college career as an environmental sciences student at the University of Oregon. He began experimenting with glass in Oregon by learning to blow pyrex – a different kind of glass than used in studio glass blowing, which is shaped by using a torch. In 1999, he realized he wanted to study studio glass blowing and transferred to OSU after discovering the university has one of the most comprehensive studio glass programs in the country.

“Blowing pyrex was just a way to play around with glass until I made the decision to come back here and study it,” he said.

Rhoda Becher, his mother, said he was a gifted child, and she was not surprised by his new interest. She said as a child he attended a pre-school for gifted children, and she first noticed his artistic abilities when he was only four years old.

“He has always been very artistic even as a child,” Rhoda Becher said. “He used to question his art teachers in first grade. He was a very smart kid.”

She said glass blowing is in Becher’s blood. A few years ago she was surprised to find out three of her uncles on her mother’s side were industrial glass blowers in the 1920s.

Nearly 80 years later, Becher is following in his great uncles’ footsteps. He began blowing soft glass – the medium used for studio glass blowing – in the fall of 1999 at Glass Axis. Glass Axis is a non-profit, public glass art facility established by graduates of the glass program in 1987. Becher experimented there while finishing up his foundation classes for the OSU glass program. After submitting his portfolio, he was accepted and began blowing as a student.

Over the past few years Becher has extended his studies beyond the OSU campus. In 2000 he was accepted to study at the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington. The Pilchuck Glass School was founded by Dale Chihuly, one of the most renowned glass blowers in the world. The glass school is the largest and most extensive educational center in the world for glass blowing artists. Since his initial study, Becher has attended the school two additional times, and this past summer he donated a glass piece titled “Cell Mitosis” to the schools annual auction. He was also nominated for a Prestigious Corning Award by the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.

In 2001 Becher studied at the Penland School of Arts and Crafts in North Carolina, and this past June, he was sent as the OSU undergraduate student representative to the Glass Art Society Conference in Amsterdam. Becher, along with two graduate representatives, spent a week learning and exchanging techniques with artists from all ends of the globe.

With all the astounding accomplishments on Becher’s resume, some might expect an arrogance to accompany him, but Becher remains humble and constantly challenges himself to improve and to push the envelope.

Moe Stevens, a sales associate at The Cameo Gallery, said gallery visitors frequently notice Becher’s glass. He also said Becher has the exciting and innovative style the gallery likes to present, and Becher’s experience and techniques will help him become a successful artist.

“His technique is very good,” Stevens said. “What makes him stand out as an artist is that he’s always working to improve that technique.”

One of the aspects Becher admires most about working with glass is the satisfaction of accomplishing and acquiring skills. The difficulty of the art form is what drives him.

“The patience you have to have with the material and with your own learning is the most frustrating aspect of blowing glass,” he said. “From the frustration comes a rewarding feeling when you complete a piece, or you find out how to execute your ideas.”

Becher’s patience, desire to work with others and desire to learn are traits which distinguish him as an artist, not just a glass blower. His intelligence and personal expression make him stand out to fellow students.

“I’ve always kind of looked up to him, and I really like his style,” said Josh Tracy, a senior in the glass program and Becher’s assistant. “As with anyone who is good, he expects a lot from you. If I’m not doing something right he’ll tell me straight up, and that makes me get better.”

Richard Harned, a professor in the glass program has noticed Becher’s aptitude and disposition as a leader. Harned has worked at OSU for 20 years and studied glass with master artist Chihuly in the 1970s.

“Every student has wonderful qualities, but I’d put him at the top of the list,” Harned said. “He is a very skilled glass blower and is a good leader. His vision as an artist will carry him in the future.”

Josiah McElheney and the Italian artist Lino Tagliopietra are among the many glass artists Becher admires. He explores his own interest in organic materials while being compelled by the involuted techniques of Italian glass blowers.

“I am definitely influenced by Italian techniques. Their ways of color application and the style in which they blow glass is very challenging,” he said.

The glass art scene in Columbus is quite prominent. Becher and Harned both agree the presence of The Thomas R. Riley Gallery and Hawk Galleries in the city of Columbus make the program at OSU even stronger. The two glass galleries – which used to just be The Riley Hawk Gallery – give OSU students the advantage of seeing work from some of the world’s finest glass blowers.

“Those galleries are two of the top galleries in the United States,” Becher said. “They are major resources for students and glass blowers in this town. We get to see all this new art work every month, and now that they split we get twice as much.”

After receiving his bachelor’s degree this winter, Becher plans to continue his craft and is considering attending graduate school. Eventually he hopes to open his own glass studio.