Shayna Leib studied Russian literature, glassblowing, and classical piano while completing her Bachelors of Art degree in Philosophy at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. Accepted into a PhD Philosophy in New York, she chose instead to pursue a Masters of Fine Arts in glass and metal at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with an MFA in 2003. Begi
nning in 2003, Shayna worked as a metal fabricator and forger at Pearson Design Studios in Maine. Upon her return to California in 2004, she taught sculpture and drawing at Cal Poly State University. In 2005 she moved on to teach glass at the University of Madison-Wisconsin. Leib has also studied glass with Che Rhodes at Penland School of Crafts, North Carolina, and Boyd Sugiki at Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine. Since 2006, she has worked closely with renowned metalsmith Donald Friedlich, executing the glass part of his designs. In 2008 she was honored with the American Style Award by Wendy Rosen. In 2010 she was given the People’s Choice Award for her sculpture Flores at Habatat Galleries, Michigan. Shayna Leib’s work is in numerous private collections nationally and has been featured in SOFA publications, worldwide blogs, Contemporary Lampworking and The Best of American Glass Artists. Shayna Leib is a deep water diver and avid lover of the ocean. She currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin with two cats, Iggabod and Oliver, whose fur has become a permanent part of her sculptures.
