My name is Max Duffy Rodriguez. I’m an American Craftsman and Artist.

I moved to Oak Lawn, IL in 2018 with my brother to become full time caregivers for our grandparents. Although it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever chosen to do, I’m eternally grateful for how profoundly it changed the trajectory of my life. After they passed, I spent time on sabbatical trying out different crafts, like wire wrapping and woodworking. As a person who spent their life performing music and editing media, I fell in love with working with my hands. Wire wrapping and woodworking were fun, but I wanted something that would outlast me. Metal tarnishes and wood rots. American Borosilicate has a half life of 1 million years. For me, the sense of exhilaration I get from performing in front of a crowd is immense, but fleeting. There is something unexplainably rewarding about making Art that Stays.

I purchased a kiln in May of 2020 and began experimenting with mold formed soft glass. It sparked my passion for working with dichroic, but I needed something more active. In July of 2020, I finished building a vent hood in my garage and started melting random boro colors together with my GTT Cheetah. Until September of 2022, I was completely self taught. I’m happy to share that I’m currently enrolled in Salem Community College for their Scientific Glass degree. It’s the best school in the world for glass, and I’m eternally grateful to be chasing my dream. Any purchases or donations will be used to pay for glass classes and supporting my journey. Thank you so much for interest and support.