In many ways it feels like Glass Art is in my DNA. Some of my earliest childhood memories involve being at my parents’ stained glass studio, sitting at my dad’s easel with his colored pencils in hand, designing my own version of a spectacularly colorful stained glass creation.

This early exposure to the creative process ignited a strong artistic passion inside me and throughout my life I’ve been drawn to a variety of creative outlets to satisfy my imaginative appetite. I’ve always been especially captivated by color. Color has always been very powerful to me in conveying my artistic point of view. I love bright, bold, in-your-face colors and incorporate them not only in my art, but in all aspects of my life without apology.

In 1979, my parents, Joseph & Ivy Pompei opened Pompei & Company in Medford, MA which has since become well known as a premier Boston Stained Glass studio with custom commissions coming from all across the US and Canada. Throughout high school and college, I often worked summers in the Pompei studio, assisting in various stages of the stained glass production process. Later, I continued working alongside them in their studio, off & on when an extra set of hands were needed to complete some larger commissions, while I pursued other artistic avenues of my own.
In 2012, the Pompei studio moved to Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts, which is now the largest artist colony of its kind on the East Coast. This move turned out to be an extremely positive move for them and a life changing event for me. I happen to live in Lowell, less than 10 minutes from Western Avenue so I was constantly visiting the new studio and often helping out with production work when I could.

Shortly after the move my dad wanted to expand into fused glass art and after purchasing a kiln & the necessary supplies he encouraged me to begin experimenting with it myself. I immediately became enthralled with the process of glass fusing, and within a few weeks I knew I had finally found my artistic calling! Working in warm glass satisfies my fascination with color in a way that is unlike any other medium I’ve previously tried my hands at.

I have since become a full-time member of the Pompei studio and continue to assist in the production of stained glass, while I also spend a significant portion of my time in the studio working on my fused glass creations.

Being a part of my family business & spending my days surrounded by the creative energy generated by working among 300 other talented artists, inspires me to continue to push my creative limits. In the same tradition as my parents, I am committed to seeing that the pursuit of excellence is reflected in all of my work.

I look forward to sharing my art with you! Thank you for visiting PompeiGlass.

Marissa Pompei