Nathan Gieseke lives in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, with his wife and three boys. A carpenter by profession and an artist at heart, Nathan works at the intersection of craft, performance, and storytelling. His practice is rooted in glassblowing, a medium he is drawn to not only for its material challenges but for its inherently performative nature. Each piece is shaped through movement, timing, and physical engagement—an act that unfolds in real time before an audience, much like theater.
Influenced by his passion for both glassblowing and theatrical performance, Nathan views the hot shop as a stage where heat, gravity, breath, and gesture collaborate. The process itself becomes part of the work, emphasizing presence, risk, and transformation. Balancing the precision of carpentry with the fluid unpredictability of molten glass, his work reflects a deep respect for labor, process, and the shared human experience of making. Whenever possible, Nathan seeks opportunities to combine making and performance, inviting viewers to witness not just the finished object, but the energy and intention embedded in its creation.