Entry No. 63 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: hands-on
Blue Sage Studios
Blue Sage is OKC's open-access hot-glass facility, where anyone can stop by and watch artists working the furnace while they're in the shop. For hands-on visits, you can make your own blown-glass ornament for about $35, or book a one-on-one lesson where you cover safety basics and create a small paperweight and a glass flower. It functions as a working studio for resident glass artists rather than a polished tourist attraction, which is part of its appeal.
The story
Tucked into the Urban Arts Building on North Western Avenue, Blue Sage Studios isn't trying to pass itself off as a tidy, velvet-roped gallery. Founded in 2003 by glass artist Andrew Boatman—who relocated the shop to this location in 2007—the building operates first and foremost as a raw, working hot shop where resident artists gather molten silica directly off the furnace to shape vases, bowls, and custom sculptures.
Because the space stays open-access, you don't need a formal ticket or tour guide just to step inside and watch. You'll hear the hum of the blowers and feel the radiant heat as local makers work between the crucible and the glory hole, offering a front-row view of real industrial craft without the sanitized atmosphere of a typical tourist stop.
What it's like
Expect ambient heat, the roar of active furnaces, and zero high-gloss polish. If you just want to spectate, you can walk in while resident glassblowers are working, but if you want to get your hands on a blowpipe, you'll need to schedule ahead by phone or email. Dress in non-synthetic clothing like cotton and wear closed-toe shoes—2,000-degree glass doesn't play well with synthetic fabrics.
The move: Sign up for a hands-on session and each gather molten glass off the furnace to blow your own ornament or shape a glass flower side by side.
📍 Before you go Hands-on sessions are scheduled by phone/email (405-601-2583); ornament make-your-own ~$35, private lesson ~$120/hr.
- 📍 Oklahoma City (Uptown / N. Western)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1218-C N. Western Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Lunar Lounge — Cool off from the furnace heat with a hidden, space-themed cocktail inside an unassuming Midtown office building half a mile away.
- Prairie Arts Stained Glass — Compare hot-glass blowing with cold, cut stained-glass techniques at this dedicated studio over in the Paseo Arts District.
- Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge — Follow up the intensity of the hot shop with retro 1970s bowling and a cold drink down the street.
- Up-Down OKC — Pair an afternoon of crafting glass keepsakes with late-night '80s pinball and arcade cabinets in the Plaza District.
Good to know
Do I need to book in advance to visit?
You can drop by without a booking to watch the glass artists work the furnace, but all hands-on workshops and private lessons must be scheduled ahead of time.
What can you make during a hands-on session?
For a quick session (~$35), you can blow your own glass ornament. In a private one-on-one lesson (~$120/hr), you'll cover safety basics and shape both a solid glass paperweight and a glass flower.
How do I schedule a glassblowing lesson or ornament session?
Sessions are booked directly with the studio via phone (405-601-2583) or email.
What should I wear to a hot-glass class?
Wear natural fibers such as cotton and bring closed-toe shoes. Avoid synthetic materials, which melt easily when exposed to intense studio heat.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: visitokc.com · Official site · travelok.com · Yelp · linkedin.com
last checked: 2026-06-23