Rae Toussaint
they/them
Athens, GA, USA
Rae Toussaint is a stained glass artist working in Athens, Georgia. They apprenticed at Art Glass Ensembles in Denton, Texas, where they assisted with large-scale home installations and repair work. Since beginning their own practice, they have focused on abstract and mid-century inspired designs, with an emphasis on using reclaimed and found glass.
“Stained glass is a craft that has been used for hundreds of years, but its history tends to be religious, white, and male. Straying from representational work, I have been interested in creating pieces that resemble cast shadows, and enjoy the phenomenological reaction of the glass as light passes through, creating its own shadow double. It is a layering that leads to endlessly fascinating color combinations and light play. The objects look both natural and highly manufactured, mirroring the way our queer bodies are seen through the lens of a largely white male world.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“This series of work uses offcuts of glass from larger pieces I have worked on over the past few years. The studio I worked at previously threw away pieces of glass they no longer needed. Since manufactured colored glass can't be recycled, most of the excess scrap went to the landfill. I decided I would always find uses for scrap glass in my practice, and it has led to my favorite work. By using glass that I had found precious for other projects, I am elevating these otherwise "trash" components and their interactions with each other are radical and exciting. I also incorporate broken vintage drinking glasses, leading to a three-dimensional characteristic of glass rising above its usual flat plain, adding more depth to the shadow behind. This allows relationships to form among the otherwise discarded pieces of glass, and their unique shapes are accentuated, interacting with one another instead of being looked past. The connection between the pieces gives them their beauty and lifts each individual piece into a powerful collective work."
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“Connection is one of the most important pieces of my creative process. Studying under a master glass artist taught me quickly and in-depth how to create work but watching the capitalism-focused processes at the studio made me realize that there was a community aspect to glass that seemed largely overlooked. I began a queer maker's space in my garage, gifting my scrap glass to other queer makers interested, and learned so much from the community I met in the process. I try to never buy new glass, so connecting to other makers paring down or closing their studios is how I find my materials. I also began queer-focused art glass classes, allowing me to become a more active part of my community and connect others to the practice I love. Most recently, I connected with an estate sale group that gifts me any glassware that breaks during their sales, meaning less material is wasted, and I’m able to meet people who directly impact the work I create."
“This past year I have been falling further away from my blood family and turning to a queer found family, and it has been both the hardest and most beautiful experience of my life. I begged my father for a genuine relationship where we could talk and I could know what he was thinking and feeling, and he told me that was "grossly inappropriate." Simultaneously, I have friends who make sure that I can afford my HRT every month, and throw me trans birthday parties so that I can be properly reintroduced to my community. I am neurodivergent and queer, and for the first time in my life I am bringing those truths to the table first thing, instead of masking and trying to make people comfortable. While I may have lost my father because of my honesty, I am so honored to actively work toward loving connections with a community who truly has my back through thick and thin. A true family."
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
"Fending For Scraps", stained glass, 20" x 20", 2024