Story by Steven Saus
HARVEYSBURG, OH — As handmade items become more rare, traditional ways of making art find ways to persist and thrive. One stained glass artist who has made this transition is M. Sotherden. They are a stained glass artist based in Dayton, Ohio, whose work bridges traditional techniques and a contemporary, vendor-driven practice. After studying fine arts, they began their professional career in Pittsburgh, working in stained glass studios where they contributed to the restoration of historic windows, including known Tiffany windows as well as other significant architectural glass.
That early experience established a foundation in preservation-grade methods—cutting, leading, painting, and assembling glass within both artistic and structural constraints. In 2004, following an economic downturn, Sotherden transitioned to an independent studio model, continuing to produce both custom work and original designs…