Born in Austin, MN, Phil Gleason is a Tallahassee-based sculptor. Gleason earned his MFA in sculpture from Florida State University in 2008 and a BFA from the University of Minnesota in 2003. For the past 16 years, he has been an integral part of the FSU Master Craftsman Studio (MCS), where he has served as Studio Manager since 2010.
At FSU MCS, Gleason oversees many architectural, commercial, private and public commissions. His unique background includes working as an effects coordinator for theaters and haunted houses, where he used props, lighting, and theatrical “black arts” to create captivating illusions and experiences. Gleason’s sculpture is focused on illusion using mediums such as lights and mirrors, flat perspectives, magnets and balance, rendering visual reality a farce. Reality is a frame of mind that Gleason’s sculptures aim to unhinge if only for a moment, until the audience becomes wise, and the trick becomes lucid.