Justin Smith is the owner of Ivystone Designs and Ivystone Studio, a local Creative Art Studio located in Downingtown, PA. Raised in West Chester, PA, Justin graduated from Owen J. Roberts School in 1999.
His senior year he earned enough credits to leave school early each day to apprentice glassblowing in Philadelphia, and after graduating he attended Salem Community College for Scientific Glassblowing in New Jersey.
The more Justin studied the medium of glass, the more he realized he wanted to pursue it as not only an art form but as a business. “The idea of creating something out of nothing was the immediate appeal, uniting form and function. It just felt natural and unforced. The notion that I could actually earn money from blowing glass was secondary, but very interesting as I got a little older.”
After years of blowing glass, in 2016, Justin took a leap and opened Ivystone Studio, housed in a huge 200 year old bank barn he purchased in Downingtown, PA.
He followed his creative vision and renovated the barn into a unique contemporary art gallery which hosts art events, shows, demos and more. Justin also does fine woodwork and now the gallery showcases international artists, sculptors and craftspeople as well as Justin’s hand-blown glass and contemporary wood furniture.