Artist Bio

Ryan McGivern, born and raised in New York City, has been a professional studio artist with a focus in ceramics and glass since 1992. At Williston Northampton, ’89, Ryan won the independent study award for her ceramics work under Brenda Minisci. She went on to study sculptural ceramics and hot casted glass at New York University with Dr. Judith Schwartz and Mark Ferguson. Finishing her degree, Ryan moved to Santa Cruz CA to work with local glassblowers and as a sandblaster at the Roy Johnson Studio until 1998.

In 1999, she returned to NYU for her graduate degree in studio art; glassblowing, sandcasting and sculptural ceramics. Ryan taught beginning glassblowing classes, assisted Mark Ferguson’s sandcasting class, worked as the tour director and assistant to the education director at Urban Glass, Brooklyn. Additionally, she studied at Pilchuck, Corning Glass Museum, Urban Glass and assisted glassblowers at Wheaton Glass in NJ. From 2000 to 2016, she worked as a visual arts instructor and exhibiting artist at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Urban Glass, The Art Lab, Historic Richmond Town Museum, Staten Island Museum, SI Children’s Museum, Sun Dog Theatre, The Studio 150, FireWorkSI, UFT and The Noble Museum. Ryan served on the board at Staten Island Arts (COAHSI) and on the SIA grants review board. In addition to teaching, Ryan owned and operated two art galleries on Staten Island, The Studio 150 and FireWorkSI. Along with making and selling her own work, her galleries promoted visual, performance and musical talent from the tri-state area.

Her blown glass and mosaic art can be found in private and public collections around the US and Canada, including the mosaic “Seven Sister’s”, located at the NYU Meyers School of Nursing. Her work has also been part of notable auctions at The National Liberty Museum, PA, The Urban Glass Blowers Ball, FDNY Captains Table, The Newark Museum, The Noble Museum, SI Museum and The ArtLab. Her work has been included in local publications and television as well as the “International Glass Artists” book by Richard Yelle.

Early in life, she was inspired by famed architect Ernest Flagg, a master of stone architecture and construction in NYC. Flagg’s intricate use of flagstone and serpentine rock, illustrated in the construction of her childhood home, had a strong impact on her interest in mosaic art.

She is currently making and teaching mosaic art on Hilton Head, SC. Ryan’s most recent series, Mosaic Sketches HHI, 2021, focuses on the integration of stone, marble and glass in a three-dimensional construction.

Teaching resume

Exhibition history