Jace Laxton has been making and showing art since elementary school. Now at 17, the Chickasaw artist from Sulphur, Oklahoma, works primarily with fused glass. He makes vases, platters and coasters while continuing to explore photography, pottery and other creative mediums.
Like Father, Like Son
Laxton learned how to work with glass from his father, Jay Laxton. The two now work side by side, trading ideas and techniques as they challenge each other to make the “coolest” piece. That relationship has also created one of Laxton’s biggest challenges as an artist. Developing a style of his own while working in a medium he learned from his father isn’t always easy. “A lot of his tricks and ideas are engraved into my mind,” Laxton said. Now, he is focused on figuring out what belongs to him.
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Fused glass
Photo: Jay Laxton
Glass gives Laxton plenty of room to experiment. He tries to base his pieces on things he sees in real life, but the kiln always adds an element of surprise. Even two identical pieces can come out differently. He especially enjoys smashing glass with a hammer because the results are never exactly the same. The broken pieces can also find their way into something new.
Learning from “Mistakes”
One of Laxton’s favorite examples started as a mistake. He had made a piece inspired by a tree, with leaves falling down the sides, and set it aside while working on another project. He paper over some glass to keep pieces from flying everywhere, folded the paper over and started smashing. When he moved the paper, he realized he had smashed the tree piece underneath it.
The tree was completely shattered. Laxton put it back into the kiln to see if he could salvage it. When it came out, the piece was still just as durable as his other work, but it kept the cracked appearance created by the accident. He renamed it Splintered (or Wooden Shards, he can’t decide) and kept it as a reminder that anything can be reused or transformed
His willingness to experiment has helped Laxton learn how to turn the ideas in his head into finished pieces. It has also taken him into a variety of competitions and exhibitions. His work has earned recognition in sculpture, photography, pottery and ceramics, including awards at the Red Earth Youth Art Competition, Red Earth Youth Art Market, Cherokee Art Market Youth and the Texas State Fair. He has also participated in the Tobachi High School Art Show and Competition and the Denver Art Museum’s Indomitably Indigenous program.
Fires of the Past
Fused glass
Photo: Jay Laxton
Jay Laxton nominated his son for Rising Voices because of his continued dedication. “He has kept with it and learned new mediums where most kids would have quit,” he said. Laxton also regularly attends art shows and markets with his parents, gaining experience not only as an artist but as someone sharing his work with the public.
Philosophies and Futures
Laxton has strong ideas about what makes something art in the first place. To him, the difference between crafts and art comes down to the thought behind each piece. “In my opinion, if you just make 100 of the same pieces,
that’s crafts, but if you make every piece with care and intent, that’s art.”
He also sees Native art as something that cannot be limited to one material or technique. For Laxton, Native art is a statement that “we are here.” Laxton notes, “It is ever expanding, and you should never be afraid to try new things.”
That mindset extends beyond glass. Laxton would like to learn 3D computer animation and explore CGI and other forms of animation. He would even love to meet the animators behind the second half of Attack on Titan to learn from their approach.
For young artists who are still figuring out their own path, Laxton has practical advice. Not every piece will sell, and sometimes an artist may go months or even years without finding a buyer. That does not mean the work was a failure. “You aren’t selling art,” he said. “You are making art and people are buying it.” His advice is to make the piece you would want to buy yourself. Eventually, someone may walk by and find the one that catches their eye.
Laxton has already spent years learning how to turn broken glass into something new. Now, he is doing the same thing with his artistic identity. If his work in fused glass is any indication, he is not afraid to break something apart to see what it can become.
Forrest Shards
Fused glass
Photo: Jay Laxton
Rising Voices
To nominate a Native youth artist (under 21 years old) for Rising Voices, fill out our nomination form here.