OPM hosts rare Midwest visit by Tiffany’s exhibit

The Oshkosh Public Museum is glowing with the beauty of “Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass,” a traveling exhibition showcasing intricate mosaic art pieces made from authentic Tiffany glass. The works sit behind glass displays in softly lit rooms, creating an atmosphere where color, detail, and craftsmanship take center stage. Open from July 19 through January 3, the exhibit invites visitors from across the Midwest to experience the brilliance of Tiffany artistry up close.

Emily Rock, Assistant Director and Chief Curator of the Oshkosh Public Museum, has played a major role in bringing the exhibit to life. She understands how special the gallery space is and why it leaves such an impression on visitors.

photo by Kaz Karla

“I really love entering the dimly-lit gallery and just being surrounded by this dramatic light. And then there are these bright jewels all over the room that you can focus on, or you can just take in all of the details,” she said.

Part of Rock’s job was to learn the story behind how “Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass” came to Oshkosh and its connection to a prestigious art collection in New York.

“‘Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass’ is a traveling exhibit that is organized by the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass, which is in Queens, New York. It has been in other locations, but this is the first time it’s been in the Midwest,” she said. “The Neustadt is a premiere museum of Tiffany glass. They have a large collection of lamps, decorative items, and windows, and even a glass archive, which is leftover glass from the Tiffany Studios used today for research.”

Coordinating such a large event came with its fair share of challenges. Rock’s team had to think on their feet and stay flexible as they transformed the museum space.

“Sometimes you have to be creative and problem-solve. You plan as much as you can in advance, but sometimes little things come up,” she said. “In this case, we had wanted to put one of the windows in a certain location in the gallery, and it turned out it wouldn’t fit there. So, we had to creatively think of a different plan—and it ended up working out great.”

Another major challenge involved moving the large glass crates into a historic building not designed for such exhibits. 

“That was one challenge, being creative to just get the pieces to the second floor,” Rock said. “Because we’re part of a historic home, we don’t have a loading elevator or dock. So we installed loading doors and, with the help of the Department of Public Works, rented a skytract—a fancy forklift—to get the crates in the building that way.” 

According to Rock,  the exhibit has already been a success, with growing attendance and positive community feedback, despites obstacles. 

“So far our attendance has increased. We’re very happy about that,” she said. “If families are in town for the holidays, looking for something to do, we’re hoping they come on down to the museum.”

Among those helping to make the exhibit a success is Patty Springer, a volunteer who has been helping at the Oshkosh Public Museum for seven years. Her love for art and history is what keeps her coming back year after year.

“I’m thrilled to be working in this exhibit because I love Tiffany glass,” she said. “It’s been fun learning and reading more about the history of Tiffany and being able to point a lot of that out to visitors.”

Springer’s favorite piece from the exhibit is a work that captures the imagination of anyone who looks closely.

“It’s kind of a toss up, but I love the Wishing Well piece,” she said. “It’s attributed to one of the famous designers from the Tiffany Studios, Agnes Northrop. If you look closely, you can see her playing around with the glass—laying mosaic pieces in the tree and on the ground. She’s just a master at what she does.”

Springer was also impressed by another rare piece with a surprising theme.

“A tropical piece is attributed to her as well,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of Tiffany, and I’ve never seen anything tropical. It kind of blew my mind when I came in here and saw that.”

According to Springer, sharing this experience with visitors is one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering.

“I love sharing information with people. If someone is nice enough to stop by and visit our establishment, I want them to come back, learn something, and feel welcome—we’re just glad they’re here,” she said. “The skill level of the artists is incredible. It’s wonderful that people get to see these works instead of them sitting unseen somewhere. Bust it out—let the world see it.”

The exhibit has also drawn enthusiastic responses from younger visitors, including senior Kalia Furtick. Furtick attended the exhibit and was amazed by what she saw.

“My friend brought me here because she thought it was really pretty and she wanted to show off everything here,” Furtick said. “My favorite part was the stained glass because I thought it was really pretty. It made me feel artistic.”

Furtick also understands the community value of events like this.

“I think it’s good for those in the community to get together and get to know people who have similar interests,” she said. “The volunteers are also really sweet, and they love to share history with the people around in the community.”

Junior Romina Estrada Orta, who attended with friends, shared a similar appreciation for the experience.

“I wanted to hang out with some of my friends, so we decided to come here,” she said. “Looking at the glass, and the way it’s all put together; it was mesmerizing.” 

Orta doesn’t go to local art events often, but this one left a lasting impression.

“This one was really nice. I really enjoyed it,” she said. “I think it’s really good when the community organizes events like this.”

As “Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass” continues to draw crowds through the winter months, it’s clear the Oshkosh Public Museum has created more than just an exhibit–it has built a shared experience where art, history, and community come together in a kaleidoscope of color and creativity.

“We want people to feel in awe of the beauty,” Rock said. “We want them to appreciate the work and craftsmanship that went into creating these beautiful pieces, and we hope to inspire folks to learn more about stained glass or Tiffany Studios.”

by Jazbia Farooq and Adele Faust

Published November 3, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue II