Chrysler Museum of Art Announces Robin Rogers as Perry Glass Studio Manager and Program Director

NORFOLK, Va. (March 26, 2018) — The Chrysler Museum of Art is pleased to announce Robin Rogers as the Perry Glass Studio Manager and Program Director. Rogers joined the Chrysler team as the Glass Studio Assistant Manager and Technician before the Studio’s opening in 2011. He most recently served as the Interim Glass Studio Manager and Program Director. “Robin is a talented artist and has long been a highly respected member of the Chrysler team. The Museum and Studio staff admire his leadership, and he has been very effective in his interim role, increasing participation in classes and programs,” said Museum Director Erik Neil.

An award-winning artist, Rogers has been working with glass since 1995. He specializes in glass sculpting and installation, and his work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the country. In January, Rogers and his wife, Julia, were visiting artists at Corning Museum of Glass. He also recently shared his expertise as an instructor at the prestigious Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Wash. In 2017, Rogers served as co-chair of the Glass Art Society conference, which was hosted by the Chrysler Museum of Art and the City of Norfolk.

He is excited to continue the Chrysler’s tradition of offering intriguing free noon demonstrations, engaging classes for ages 5 and up, captivating performance evenings and other special events that attract artists and visitors from around the world. “I am looking forward to the bright future of the Perry Glass Studio and the Chrysler Museum of Art. The Studio is very close to my heart. I have had a hand in every stage of the Studio’s development from creating class structures to directing performances. It is an honor for me to now hold this position,” Rogers said.

Before joining the Chrysler Museum team, Rogers owned and operated Missoula School of Hot Glass in Montana. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Glass from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Glass and Painting from Columbus College of Art and Design.

Rogers’ appointment marks the second recent change that will enhance the Chrysler Museum of Art and Perry Glass Studio. Carolyn Swan Needell, Ph.D., will join the Chrysler Museum in April as the Carolyn and Richard Barry Curator of Glass. In addition to her vast curatorial experience, Swan Needell holds valuable glassblowing and casting experience that pairs well with the Chrysler Museum’s Perry Glass Studio.

“We are excited to grow our team with remarkable and talented people who will continue to bring innovative programming to our visitors and allow the Museum and Glass Studio to connect with audiences in insightful ways,” said Neil. “The Chrysler Museum of Art and the Perry Glass Studio are cornerstones of Norfolk’s NEON District. Our success is evidence of the vital role that arts and culture play in the revitalization of the city.”

ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s most distinguished mid-sized art museums, with a nationally recognized collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America. The core of the Chrysler’s collection comes from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., an avid art collector who donated thousands of objects from his private collection to the Museum. The Museum, expanded in 2014 to add additional gallery spaces and amenities for visitors, now has growing collections in many areas and mounts an ambitious schedule of visiting exhibitions and educational programs each season. The Chrysler has also been recognized nationally for its unique commitment to hospitality with its innovative gallery host program.

The Perry Glass Studio is a state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. The studio offers programming for aspiring and master artists alike in a variety of processes including glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, coldworking and neon. The studio has also cultivated a reputation for its cutting-edge performance evenings, and was the host venue of the 2017 Glass Arts Society Conference.

In addition, the Chrysler Museum of Art administers two historic houses in downtown Norfolk: the Moses Myers House and the Willoughby-Baylor House, as well as the Jean Outland Chrysler Library on the campus of Old Dominion University. General admission is free at all venues. For more information on the Chrysler Museum of Art, visit chrysler.org.

###

For more information, interview assistance, or a high-resolution image suitable for publication: