Entry No. 35 — the Cincinnati file — filed under: glassblowing
Neusole Glassworks
Operating as a non-profit, public-access glass hot shop, Neusole lets couples step directly onto the studio floor to work with 2,000°F liquid glass pulled from glowing furnaces.
The story
Tucked into an industrial corridor on Kemper Springs Drive in Forest Park, Neusole Glassworks operates under the radar as a non-profit, public-access hot shop. Incorporated into the John J. Schiff III Foundation in 2008, the facility serves as a working laboratory where resident artists, visiting sculptors, and total novices share furnace space. It stands as one of the rare facilities in the Cincinnati area equipped for hot furnace glassblowing, torch flameworking, and kiln fusing all under one roof.
The studio runs a national visiting artist residency that brings experienced glassmakers into Forest Park for intensive production runs, but its public workshops are where things get tactile. In signature sessions like 'Hearts of Love,' couples step directly onto the active hot-shop floor. Working side-by-side with studio staff, you gather clear molten glass from 2,000°F crucibles onto steel blowpipes, roll it through trays of crushed colored glass frit, shape the glowing mass with steel hand tools inside reheating glory holes, and physically fuse two individually sculpted glass hearts into a single solid piece.
What it's like
Stepping onto the studio floor means stepping into real industrial heat, roaring gas furnaces, and the constant hum of cooling fans. For hands-on workshops, instructors handle the high-risk heat management while guiding your hands through rolling molten glass on steel marvers, manipulating red-hot forms near the open furnace blast, and blowing into blowpipes. Wear closed-toe shoes and natural fibers like cotton, as heat and stray sparks will melt synthetic fabrics. Keep in mind that glass cannot leave the shop immediately—every hot piece must spend hours gradually cooling inside an annealing oven to prevent thermal shock, so you'll need to arrange to pick up your finished artwork a few days later.
The move: Schedule the signature 'Hearts of Love' couples session to gather colored glass frit on blowpipes, shape red-hot glass with steel tools inside glory holes, and fuse two distinct glass hearts into one.
- 📍 Forest Park
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 11925 Kemper Springs Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45240
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- ArtsConnect — Trade furnace glassblowing for outdoor anvil work with a blacksmithing session at Springfield Township's community arts center less than five miles away.
- Arcade Legacy — Cool off five miles east in Sharonville with flat-rate retro gaming across 15,000 square feet of arcade cabinets and pinball.
- Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum — Swap small-scale handcraft for 300 acres of monumental outdoor art and an underground Roman villa-style museum five miles north in Hamilton.
- Native Moon Apothecary — Follow up the intense heat of the glory holes with quiet herbal tea blends and custom wellness remedies four miles south in Mount Healthy.
Good to know
Do I need any prior glassblowing experience to participate?
No prior experience is necessary for beginner workshops, public demonstrations, or hands-on date sessions; studio artists guide you through every step. (Private lessons are the exception and do require prior glassworking experience.)
What are the age requirements for workshops?
Participants must be at least 5 years old for glassblowing and fusing sessions, and at least 10 years old for torch-based flameworking.
Can I take my completed glass piece home the same day?
No. Freshly worked glass requires a slow, controlled cooling process inside an annealing kiln to prevent cracking, meaning you must return on a subsequent day to pick up your cooled item.
Do I need to make a reservation before visiting?
Yes, appointments are required for all classes, demonstrations, and hands-on sessions. Be sure to confirm current operating hours and availability before traveling.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · ohio.org
last checked: 2026-07-21