R.J. Maupin

R.J. Maupin is a PhD student in Design History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on American glass production during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with a particular interest in how glassblowing has been publicly enacted through demonstrations—both in industrial and studio contexts. Her research is grounded in her experiences working at a glass studio in North Carolina, as well as her own craft practices in stained glass and flameworking.

Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Maupin obtained an MA in Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture from Bard Graduate Center. Her qualifying paper, “Illuminating the ‘Gillway’: Concealment of Black Women’s Labor at Gill Glass Company,” was co-awarded the Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts Award. Maupin also holds a BA in Art History from Elon University and has held positions at the Leslie-Lohman Museum, the Mint Museum, and the Weatherspoon Art Museum.