Tennessee Tech art student gains recognition for glasswork inspired by heritage, community
Tennessee Tech University senior fine arts major Davĩd Rios is turning heads in the glass community through a combination of skill, passion and creativity.
Known for inventive pieces that highlight his distinctive style, Rios has developed a singular artistic voice while working at Tech’s Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville. A student in the university’s School of Art, Craft & Design, Rios has found both inspiration and purpose in the medium of glass.
Originally from the Tacoma-Seattle area, glass became an outlet for Rios’ personal and creative growth at an early age. He first encountered glass art as a sixth grader and began working with the medium at age 12, inspired by renowned glassblower James Mongrain.
“As a child, I took field trips to the famous Chihuly’s boathouse and had the privilege of breaking bread with Dale Chihuly and watching the collaborative teamwork with Mongrain… Both of their works are in museums around the world,” Rios said.
Mongrain’s own connection to the Appalachian Center for Craft helped inspire Rios’ cross-country move to Tennessee.
“I’m getting to study and create in the same room in which he learned,” Rios said.
As a widely respected learning community, gallery and studio complex, the Craft Center has helped shape generations of artists and advance contemporary craft for decades.
Rios said he immediately felt at home in the environment.
“The moment I knew that the Appalachian Center was my home was the first time I gathered out of the furnace… It was like the training wheels came off and I knew I’d be challenged to grow and learn… It was a moment of recognition; it was a brand-new experience but one that I was familiar with. I’d found my place,” he said.
Glassmaking, by nature, is a collaborative art form. Artists rely on one another to bring ideas from concept to completion.
“This place is a community. We come from completely different backgrounds and yet we’re blowing glass here together. We depend on each other. There are not many art forms that require this type of community and teamwork,” Rios said.
Rios’ work ethic and talents contributed to his selection as an inaugural recipient of the Woodsmore Fellowship, an annual endowment that recognizes and supports student artists at Tech.
Kim Winkle, director of the School of Art, Craft & Design and the Appalachian Center for Craft, praised Rios’ commitment and impact.
“David is an exemplary student and community member,” said Winkle. “He is driven to perfect his craft, spending endless hours in the glass hot shop. His creations are innovative and are a true celebration of his Mexican heritage. I am heartened that he so generously shares his culture with us through his glass works.”
Winkle went on to laud Rios as “a remarkable young man” who is “generous, kind, respectful and always willing to lend a helping hand.”
“I’m confident that David is a rising star in the glass and craft arenas,” she added. “I am so proud of him in so many ways!”
Rios’ senior thesis is a series of pieces celebrating his heritage and the challenge of belonging while co-existing in two separate cultures. The focal point is an altar that pays homage to traditions of mourning and celebrating life. Throughout Latin American countries, altars are created for a variety of different reasons.
“I chose this project because it’s a tangible nod to my ancestors… it reminds me of where I came from and allows me to use my skills as an artist to celebrate being Mexican American,” Rios said.
Rios will display his senior thesis in the Appalachian Center for Craft gallery May 1–11. A closing reception will take place Friday, May 8, from 3–6 p.m.
Rios’ work is also on permanent display in the Benaroya Collection at the Tacoma Art Museum. He will participate in an artist residency at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, Dec. 17–19, 2026.
Additional work can be viewed at www.riosonfire.com or on Instagram @curious_glass. To learn more about the Appalachian Center for Craft, visit www.tntech.edu/fine-arts/craftcenter.