Every Sip a Canvas: Upstate’s Hand-Dyed Glassware Blurs the Line Between Art and Utility

If glassware could capture a feeling—of summer breeze, sun-warmed skin, or a fleeting memory—it might look something like the new collection from Upstate, a US-based design studio founded by Kalen Kaminski. These hand-blown drinking glasses, bathed in kaleidoscopic colour, bring painterly flair and soulful craftsmanship to the everyday ritual of drinking.

Artful Origins

Inspired by the expressive palettes of painters like Morris Louis, Helen Frankenthaler, and Ellsworth Kelley, each Upstate glass is a small celebration of colour and form. Rather than adhering to rigid patterns or prints, the hues are infused directly into the molten glass during the hand-blowing process—a method that ensures no two pieces are ever quite alike.

This means every glass carries the gentle irregularities and surprises that come with true artisan work. The result? Tableware that feels alive with movement, story, and spontaneity.

A Closer Look at the Collection

Upstate offers five distinctive colourways, each with its own visual mood:

• Fumé: A mostly transparent base traced with elegant black ribbons and tinged with amber—quiet, smoky, and refined.
• Frankie: Butterscotch meets blush in soft, swirling layers—a gentle, nostalgic palette that feels like golden hour in a glass.
• Kokomo: A sun-drenched combination of pastels that recalls “walking on sand, wind in hair, Beach Boys on the radio.”
• Moss: Earthy greens flow like tendrils of nature—organic and grounding.
• Watermelon: A lively duo of pink and green, playfully reminiscent of its namesake fruit and summer’s carefree sweetness.

Each one tells a story, not just through its colours but through its process—designed by Kaminski and handcrafted by glassblowers in New York City.

Designed for the Moment

At its core, Upstate isn’t just about objects—it’s about presence. “We believe in the joy of experimentation and the thrill of the unexpected,” the studio says. “Upstate is playful and eludes to the idea of escape, slowing down and being in the moment.”

And that’s exactly what these glasses offer: a pause, a visual delight, a small luxury that transforms a drink into an experience.

Whether you’re sipping a spritz, pouring water, or setting a joyful table, Upstate’s hand-dyed glasses turn the ordinary into something quietly extraordinary—where every sip becomes a brushstroke.

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