Stained Glass Artist

Iman Hathaway

I have always enjoyed making things with my hands. As much as I love to learn new things I also often find myself frustrated when the path to acquiring new skills is unfamiliar and difficult. I am always reminded however, as my knowledge grows with every new learning experience, that I find the most growth in pushing myself further into the unknown.

Iman is a Michigan based artist self taught in the medium of stained glass. Before pursuing a passion for stained glass artwork, Iman studied engineering and computer science with few other Black and female peers. Utilizing those skills in designing, planning, mechanical engineering, and wood working, Iman now creates artwork that brings her unique perspective and style to lasting compositions.

In 2022, Iman began working with glass as a resident artist at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Ireland. There she spent three months independently researching stained glass techniques and allowing her inspiration to bloom surrounded by the mountains and lush greenery of the valley in the Burren. Much of her work from this period includes pressed flowers and plants foraged from the valley and mountains surrounding the school.

Now Iman creates stained glass artwork from her home studio in Ypsilanti and exhibits work all over Michigan and the midwest.An ongoing focal study of hers is a series of stained glass teaware that explores the relationship between time poverty and acts of self care and how they each contribute to prosperity and abundance. The overarching goal of all her work in this medium is to create artwork that catches the eye of the viewer to encourage them to stop and make space and time throughout the day for self care and rest while absorbing more light.