Lexington Glassworks brings handmade glass art to downtown Asheville

On South Lexington Avenue, Lexington Glassworks gives downtown Asheville something shoppers and visitors can actually watch happen: molten glass turned into handmade art in a 5,000-square-foot working studio and gallery. The space, founded by Billy Guilford and Geoff Koslow and opened in January 2015, has become one of the few downtown places where the creative process is part of the experience, not hidden behind a door.

That matters in a downtown economy that depends on foot traffic, lingering visits and reasons to bring people back. At Lexington Glassworks, guests can step inside a working studio, browse custom lighting and handmade glass, and stop at a taproom that serves local beer in hand-blown glass. The setup turns a quick stop into a longer stay, which is exactly the kind of mix that helps independent businesses anchor downtown Asheville’s identity as both an arts district and a tourism destination.

The live demonstrations are the clearest hook. Lexington Glassworks offers glassblowing demos on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with typical sessions lasting about 30 minutes and carrying a nominal fee. The format is simple enough for a family visit, but distinctive enough to make the business stand out in a city known for art, craft and maker culture. School groups and motor coach tours are also welcome, and groups larger than 10 are asked to schedule in advance.

Guilford and Koslow built the studio around a stated mission to create timeless, innovative hand-blown glass and custom lighting using century-old techniques and locally sourced material. That combination of craft, retail and live production is part of why the business has stayed relevant since opening in 2015. It gives residents a place to buy a one-of-a-kind gift, bring visiting family to see glass made in real time, and watch a downtown storefront function as a studio rather than a showroom alone.

ArtsAVL has described Lexington Glassworks as a nationally acclaimed creative space and credited it with launching a resident assistantship program aimed at helping emerging artists by reducing affordability barriers. Explore Asheville places the studio within a broader regional story, noting that studio glass took off in the Southeast in Asheville and the surrounding area. In a downtown shaped by both recovery and reinvention, Lexington Glassworks remains part of the cultural infrastructure that keeps Asheville’s handmade identity visible on the street.