The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) opened "Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio" on May 16, 2026, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration. This is the first survey exhibition dedicated to women artists who shaped the American Studio Glass Movement from the 1960s onward, featuring over 200 works by artists including Claire Falkenstein, Audrey Handler, Margie Jervis, Susie Krasnican, Kathleen Mulcahy, Ginny Ruffner, Ruth Tamura, and Toots Zynsky. The exhibition draws from CMoG’s permanent collection, the Rakow Research Library, and loans from the artists, and is complemented by an oral history initiative preserving first-person accounts.
This exhibition matters because it corrects a historical imbalance: the Studio Glass Movement has often been framed around a narrow lineage of male artists, while women played a central yet overlooked role. By highlighting works from the 1960s through today, "Tough Stuff" expands the historical narrative to reflect a more inclusive vision, acknowledging the persistence, ingenuity, and influence of these women. The accompanying oral history project ensures their voices are preserved for future generations, making this a significant step in rewriting art history.