CORNING, NY (607NewsNow) — A year-long celebration will honor the Corning Museum of Glass’s 75th year in business.
A new exhibition, Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio, will open on May 16th, 2026 as the museum’s main exhibit for the year. The official arrival of new President and Executive Director, Dr. Jessica Levin Martinez, and the 30th anniversary of The Studio are also being celebrated this year.
Object featured: Meteorite dall’ Influenza Veneziana, Einar de la Torre (American, b. Mexico 1963) and Jamex de la Torre (American, b. 1960), United States, CA, San Diego; Mexico, Baja; United States, NY, Corning, 2024.4.15. Photo contributed by Kelci Sibley.
CMoG will kick off its anniversary with its local community in Corning on February 20, 2026. This will be the first official opportunity for museum members and residents to meet Dr. Jessica Levin Martinez, whose official tenure as the Museum’s President and Executive Director begins February 2, 2026. Dr. Martinez comes to CMoG from the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University and succeeds Dr. Karol Wight.
Hot glass demonstrations by the museum’s Hot Glass Team and live music by Vancouver-based band The Town Pants will be found at the CMoG75 event. The event will be the culmination of the museum’s annual family-focused winter break events which feature interactive activities for all ages. Tickets for the event go on sale Thursday, January 15 at cmog.org/CMoG75.
A guest takes their first gather of glass in the In-Depth Make Your Own Glass experience. Photo contributed by Kelci Sibley.
Jeff Evenson, Chairman of the CMoG Board, remarked: “Glass is a transformative material that continues to redefine how we experience the world. The Museum’s 75th anniversary presents an opportunity to highlight both the significance of glass and the Museum’s integral role as an incubator for contemporary glass artists, a research center advancing scholarship and technical innovation, and an international cultural destination central to our regional community. With Jessica joining the Museum, I am confident that we will build upon our 75-year legacy of exploring and capturing the possibilities of this remarkable material. We look forward to introducing her and commemorating this important milestone with our community.”
Centering its community, CMoG is also organizing the 75 Favorites display, which will open on January 10, 2026. A collaboration between CMoG and 75 members of its varied communities, from former Junior Curators and staff members to artists and long-time Corning area residents, who each shared one quintessential “favorite” memory, program, or artwork from the Museum’s 75-year history. These memories will be shared along the West Bridge, and the 75 people who shared their stories will be invited to celebrate the display at CMoG75. An accompanying online component with extended memories, additional images, and select audio recordings can be viewed at 75favorites.cmog.org.
Find more information on the Corning Museum of Glass website as well as a full schedule of exhibitions and events for 2026 here.
