Prairie Fire Glass

Prairie Fire Glass (no relation!) is a glassworking studio and gallery in Monticello, Illinois. It’s owned and operated by glass artist Jim Downey,and features beautiful and functional artworks like vases, bowls, jewelry, and ornaments. Every piece is one of a kind, handmade on site.

Their unique retail store has a gallery in the front and a working studio in the back. Seasonally, you can watch live glass blowing demos while browsing the extensive variety of finished pieces.

We got to sit down with Jim and discuss his process, and what led him to what he calls a “retirement” hobby that turned into a new career. Jim’s passion for art and glassblowing was obvious during our chat, and learning how he approaches his art is inspiring.