Bob Snodgrass


Bob Snodgrass is an American lampworker known for his contributions to the art of glass pipe-making and glass art. He began working on his techniques while following the Grateful Dead on tour during the 1970s and '80s.
In 1981, glassblowing became Snodgrass's main trade. He and his family began traveling in the United States, selling his work at art markets until 1990 when they settled in Eugene, Oregon. Snodgrass is credited with having invented color changing glass, a type of borosilicate glass mixed with gold, silver, platinum, or any combination which changes colors as the dark resin builds up on the inside of the glass. He founded the Eugene Glass School.
The documentary film Degenerate Art depicts the glass subculture that Snodgrass helped to create. He has been called the "Godfather of glass."

Apprentices

Snodgrass taught in Oregon many younger artists how to create functional glass art, including Jason Harris of Jerome Baker Designs, who gained notoriety throughout the 1990s on the west coast for his high quality glass bongs and pipes. Jerome Baker Designs had its assets seized during Operation Pipe Dreams, a federal operation to prosecute glass blowers in the United States. After legalization, Jerome Baker Designs began picking up steam again, ultimately creating the world's largest bong at 24-feet high and 800 pounds.