Entry No. 192 — the Denver file — filed under: hands-on
Flux Studio
Flux is a working hot-glass studio and gallery in the RiNo arts district that lets visitors gather molten glass from the furnace themselves rather than just watch. Their hands-on, make-your-own-glass experiences need no prior skill and work well for couples and date nights, shaping your own piece from glowing glass with an instructor at your shoulder. The studio is open Wednesday through Sunday and also hosts First Friday glassblowing demos.
The story
Most studio glass workshops treat you like a fragile spectator, letting you watch from behind a safety line while a staff member handles the molten silica. Flux Studio operates on a different code. Founded in 2014 by MFA glass artists Cortney Boyd and Nate Steinbrink, this Bruce Randolph Avenue hotshop puts you right at the furnace door. You aren't just blowing air through a metal pipe—you're reaching into a 2,000-plus-degree furnace to gather the glowing glass yourself with an instructor standing at your shoulder.
The space double-duties as a working gallery, a teaching floor, and a rental hotshop equipped with 14-inch and 18-inch glory holes where local and traveling artists pay for bench time. That daily production energy means you’re walking into an unvarnished workshop filled with cooling racks, jacks, wooden blocks, and heat haze rather than a sanitized classroom. On select First Fridays, the studio opens for free glassblowing demonstrations, though they pause the live demos during the peak summer heat from July through September.
The catch with hot glass is that physics refuses to grant instant gratification. Anything you gather, color, and shape here has to spend days cooling gradually in a temperature-controlled annealing kiln to strip away internal stress so it doesn't shatter later. You leave the studio empty-handed on class day and return days later once your glass has safely set.
What it's like
Expect intense ambient heat the second you walk onto the shop floor at 2541 Bruce Randolph Avenue. You'll need to show up in closed-toe shoes and natural cotton clothing—synthetic fabrics melt near the equipment—and keep water handy. During a Date Night or beginner class, your instructor stays glued to your side, managing furnace timing while you roll hot glass in color frit, shape it with wooden blocks, and expand it into an ornament or cup. The main tip: don't expect to take your piece home that afternoon, as finished glass takes three to seven days in the annealing kiln before pickup.
The move: Take the couples Date Night class and each pull a piece of molten glass from the furnace into your own ornament or cup under an instructor's guidance.
📍 Before you go Open Wed-Sun 8:30am-3:30pm; Date Night and other classes by reservation, finished glass needs overnight annealing before pickup.
- 📍 RiNo, Denver
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2541 Bruce Randolph Ave, Denver, CO 80205
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Hell or High Water Tiki — Follow up hours near a 2,000-degree furnace by heading a mile south into a hidden, pink leopard-print tiki bar on Walnut Street for cold drinks.
- One River North (MAD Architects canyon floors) — Pair your hotshop session with a walk under a mile away to see the four-story outdoor canyon torn through this RiNo residential tower.
- Nomad Neon — Double down on high-heat glass craft by pairing hot-furnace glassblowing with a workshop bending neon gas tubing over open torch flames.
- Black American West Museum & Heritage Center — Head a mile down into Five Points after your workshop to tour a historic Victorian house dedicated to Black cowboy history in the Old West.
Good to know
Do I need any previous glassblowing experience to take a class?
No prior experience is necessary. Instructors guide you through every step, including gathering molten glass from the furnace and using the shaping tools.
What should I wear to a class at Flux Studio?
You are required to wear closed-toe shoes and clothes made from natural fibers like cotton. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester, which can melt near the furnace heat.
Can I take my glass piece home immediately after class?
No. Hot glass must cool slowly over several days in an annealing kiln to prevent stress cracks. Finished pieces are typically ready for pickup 3 to 7 days later or can be shipped for an added fee.
When is Flux Studio open?
The studio is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Classes like the Date Night workshop require advance reservations online.
Are First Friday glassblowing demonstrations free?
Yes, First Friday demos are free and open to all ages, though the studio pauses them during the hottest summer months from July through September.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: rinoartdistrict.org · Official site · colorado.com · wanderlog.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23