Gayle Morrow Olsson

Gayle Olsson is a stained glass artist who designs her own pieces from imagination, color and life that takes you to an incredible finished piece of art.  She has been creating her own designs in various media for 30 years.  Gayle has been a volunteer with teachers for years, in her children’s schools while she lived in SW Florida and also with her recent involvement with the founding of the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, creating Events and Programs for members of all communities to enjoy. Now, she is happiest teaching her stained glass art to her own students in her studio which is now located in the Color Obsession Gallery.  Gayle insists every student creates their own design for their class piece, even though sometime kicking and screaming, they always choose something much harder than a pattern they would purchase, which in turn, teaches them so much more about the art of stained glass.

After spending her early childhood in Hingham, Gayle moved to an old family homestead in East Sandwich, the home of her great, great grandfather George Haines, who came from England with his brothers in the early 1800’s to be a glassblower for the Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory.  After trying different media for her art, and perhaps inspired by her ancestor, Gayle discovered a passion for the use of color and light and realized that by using glass as a medium she could create her designs and bring them to life through stained glass. While not teaching class in the studio, she still paints and is creating colorful jewelry while hosting in her gallery.

Gayle’s vision uses her original two-dimensional designs and turns them into three-dimensional works of art.  A series of her glass works are on display in several galleries in the area including Color Obsession Gallery in Mashpee and My Sister’s Gallery in Sandwich.  Many of her designs can also be seen in the Painted Lady in Sandwich.  These works include the “Glass Scarf” series, original designs from her original portfolio that contributed to her acceptance by The New England School of Art for her distinctive use of color.  Other works include the “Looking Glass” series—three dimensional mirrors of all colors and shapes, the “Corner Stones” series—designed as artistic accents for a doorway, entryway, or as frames for a large window, and the “Masque” series provocative three-dimensional shapes to spur any imagination. The “Portal” series uses photographs and life experiences for her inspiration and are free standing.  The “Phish” series features realistic portraits of local fish to remind the fisherman of the one that got away.  For the lady who has everything, a Glass Purse from “The Event” series is the “reason” for the evening.

Color is the driving force in Gayle’s creative process and she began her artistic career as an impressionist painter.  She has been in several juried shows, and many of her paintings as well as her stained glass pieces are in private collections around the world.

Gayle Olsson’s studio is located in her Color Obsession Gallery, 15 Joy Street, South Cape Village, Mashpee, MA.  She offers classes and tours to all interested people.  Call 508-246-6246 for more information