Preston Singletary

American, Tlingit (born 1963)

Celebrated artist Preston Singletary (Tlingit and Filipino-American) grew up in the Seattle area listening to stories told by his great-grandparents, who were Tlingit (Native Alaskan). In 1984, Singletary took part in his first workshop at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington. In the late 1980s, he began including traditional Tlingit themes into his work. In his own words, “It was only when I began to experiment with using designs from my Tlingit cultural heritage that my work began to take on a new purpose and direction.” Singletary has returned to Pilchuck as both a teacher and student many times, and he has blown glass around the world. In 2018, he was honored with a Washington State Governor's Arts and Heritage Award. In 2024, he was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame (his grandmother is Filipina).