Biography
Percy Echols II
Independent Creative for Neon and Plasma Art
Pittsburgh Glass Center
Pittsburgh, PA
Biography
Percy Echols II is a Pittsburgh-based Artist, Alchemist, and Educator at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Here, he is at the forefront of pioneering the development of a space dedicated to the emergence of plasma and neon light art.
He began working in glass in 2011 at Illinois State University, after diving into his first Glassblowing Class. The spark for plasma came in 2014 at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA. There, a furnace glassblowing class taught by Patrick Collentine introduced him to plasma light sculpture. This ignited both his passion and mentorship.
Throughout his pursuit of a BFA in Studio Glass, plasma remained a constant. After graduating, a year-long apprenticeship at the Pittsburgh Glass Center became his new chapter.
Here he was gifted with an opportunity, where donated neon equipment and a growing network of artists, planted the seed for the emergence of a new medium in the public space. This space not only allowed Percy to create his artwork but also facilitated workshops, classes, and collaborations focused on Plasma and Neon.
In 2017, the seeds of a podcast called Taming Lightning were sown, becoming a beacon for others to explore plasma and neon. Percy’s personal quest, fortified by the guidance of mentors, and relentless self-study, paved the way for enriching conversations with fellow artists, makers, and institutions intertwined in this captivating field.
His commitment was further cemented in 2019 as he joined the Plasma Art Alliance Committee. Subsequent to his active involvement, he was nominated for a leadership role in 2020, an honor that mirrored his mission-driven dedication to propel illuminated plasma within glass as a profound sculptural art medium. This objective harmonized seamlessly with the ethos of his podcast, Taming Lightning.
In his ongoing quest, Percy is dedicated to crystallizing the methodologies and insights he’s honed, and to disseminating this knowledge across the landscape of aspiring artists, makers, and engineers. His endeavors reverberate with a drive to make plasma accessible through public art institutions, transforming curiosity into enlightenment and engaging with the transformative possibilities of plasma, glass, and light.