Borosyndicate presents world-class glass artists

October 18, 2022

Borosyndicate presents world-class glass artists

Borosyndicate – a brick-and-mortar glass art gallery and retail store with a separate glassblowing facility – produces its own branded items as well as well-known brands of glass.

The gallery and showcase features a Hall of Fame of glassblowing artists known for diverse styles, characters, and techniques. You will find legends like Ryan O’Keefe, Steve Sizelove, Peter Muller, Lord, Jeff Green and Jeff Smart. (See examples below.)

Glassblowing has a long tradition in the cannabis and art world, beginning with pioneers like Bod Snodgrass and Jason Harris (Jerome Baker Designs). This type of art dates back to the 1970s and later became popular with spoons, bubblers, sherlocks, hammers, hookahs, rigs and so on. Artists often push the boundaries of what animals, characters, and shapes can be created for functional art.

Borosyndicate is where glass becomes art: people pay the highest price for creations from the artists with the most credibility and the pieces with the most features like percolators or diffusers. High quality fine glass from brands such as Iladelph and Sovereignty Glass can be found on the top shelves. But you can find art inspired spoon whistles with lots of marbles and colorful swirl elements at bargain prices. No two are the same.

Kenny Holladay and Evan Ballance started Salt Lake City, Utah-based Borosyndicate Productions many years ago with the Borosyndicate retail store. Holladay himself is largely self-taught in the art of glassblowing and helps set up apprenticeships for glassblowing students.

“Borosyndicate has been in business for over 15 years,” Holladay told the High Times. The gallery and showcase retain high ratings online, with testimonials going back years.

Borosilicate glass is often preferred for its ability to withstand thermal cycling and most importantly for its sheer strength and resistance to shattering. The fragility factor is an important thing to consider when purchasing fine glass. Heavier whistles and hookahs tend to last longer than cheap imitations.

“The scientific name of the type of glass we work with is borosilicate,” he said. “We changed the name and changed it to Borosyndicate. We are a like-minded group of artists who all share the same interests, which is making art out of borosilicate glass. Hence the reason for syndicate instead of silicate.”

While other glass retail businesses come and go, Borosyndicate is here to stay. “When COVID started we thought we were going to close and nobody would come in, but we were fortunate to have an incredible staff who were more than willing to come to work every day without missing a beat,” he said . “Our loyal and amazing well-wishers have supported us more than ever during this difficult time, which has helped tremendously as we get through the worst part of the pandemic.”

The company opened several locations over the years. “We had two locations, but unfortunately we recently had to close one location because the landlord converted the building into an air-conditioned warehouse,” said Holladay. “We currently have a brick and mortar retail location as well as a separate glassblowing facility where all of our in-house glass is made. We are working on opening a second retail location again soon.”

You can buy directly from the Borosyndicate.com website or Borosyndicate’s Instagram @borosyndicate. You can also find other needed accessories like grinders, scales, dab pads and so on.

The Artists of the Boro Syndicate

Check out the current list of a handful of notables in the Borosyndicate gallery where you can get a showpiece to display on the mantle.

Ryan O’Keefe (@sdryno)