Meet Rollin Karg
A lifetime of artistry.
A legacy built in glass.
Artist and founder Rollin Karg’s journey into glass wasn’t planned, but once he discovered it, it became his life’s work. What began as curiosity evolved into a decades-long career, shaping not only his art but the foundation of Karg itself…a gallery built around creativity, craftsmanship, and the experience of art.
The Artist Behind The Name
Rollin Karg’s path to becoming an artist didn’t follow a traditional route.
It found him later in life.
Born in Ohio and raised in Florida, Rollin was drawn early to creativity and working with his hands. His path initially led elsewhere, bringing him to Kansas, where he attended Wichita State University and built a career as an industrial engineer in the aeronautics industry.
It wasn’t until a visit to a glass museum in Corning, New York, that something shifted. The experience sparked a curiosity that quickly turned into something more. Soon after, Rollin enrolled in glassblowing classes at Emporia State University, studying under Richard Stauffer, one of the early pioneers of glass education in the region.
That moment marked the beginning of a completely new direction, one that would define the rest of his career.
“I had no idea I was an artist… I just accidentally fell into this glass thing.”
A Life in Glass
Rollin approached glass the same way he approached everything, by learning, experimenting, and building from the ground up.
What began with small-scale pieces created in a garage studio quickly grew into a full-time pursuit. Early work focused on paperweights, but over time, his pieces evolved, becoming larger, more expressive, and increasingly defined by movement, color, and light. His work often reflects a blend of influences, drawing from the natural colors and energy of Florida while remaining grounded in the craftsmanship and work ethic shaped in Kansas. Dichroic glass, known for its shifting color and depth, became a signature element in many of his pieces.
“Once I got into it… I couldn’t think about anything else.”
From early paperweights to large-scale sculptural pieces, his work has evolved over time, often shaped by experimentation and sometimes even by accident. Forms stretch, twist, and capture light in ways that feel alive, reflecting both the material and the maker behind it. Color plays a central role in every piece. Whether created in-house or sourced in raw form, each element is carefully chosen to create depth, movement, and visual impact.
What began as a personal creative pursuit soon expanded beyond the studio. Rollin’s work found its way into galleries across the country, building a reputation that extended far beyond Kansas. And along the way, he formed connections with artists across the country, relationships that would ultimately shape the next chapter.
What started small didn’t stay that way for long.
From Artist to Founder
Curating the Karg Experience
As demand for his work grew, so did his vision… which soon evolved into Karg Art Glass in Kechi, KS.
Today, Karg reflects more than one artist’s work; it reflects a philosophy.
Each piece in the gallery is selected with intention, bringing together artists who share a commitment to craftsmanship and originality. From glass and metal to ceramics and jewelry, the gallery has grown into a carefully curated collection of work from artists across the country.
Rollin’s influence can be seen throughout, not just in his own creations, but in the overall experience of the gallery itself.
MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION
