Born in 1957 in Carmel, California, William Morris is a retired glass artist recognized for his technical virtuosity and close ties to the Pilchuck Glass School. Morris studied at California State University in Chico and Central Washington University in Ellensburg before moving to Seattle, Washington, in 1978. In Seattle, he was initially hired as a truck driver for Pilchuck Glass School, but he quickly became involved in the hot shop, working under the school’s legendary founder Dale Chihuly. Morris worked at Pilchuck for 10 years – ultimately as Chihuly’s chief gaffer – before leaving to form his own studio. His sculptures evoke early human civilization and explore humanity’s contemporary relationship to the natural world. Morris has capitalized on his skill as a glassblower to create objects that appear to be bone, stone, or wood – but they're made of highly worked glass. Before retiring from the field in 2007, Morris gained a considerable following and has mounted solo exhibitions in galleries and museums around the country. His work is represented within many public and private collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. William Morris received a Master of the Medium Award from the James Renwick Alliance in 2005, and he was elected a Fellow of the American Craft Council in 2007.