Artisan John Pomp, owner of John Pomp Studios in Port Richmond, is honoring his multiracial Asian American heritage through the art of glass, writes Madeleine Wright for CBS News Philadelphia.
He crafts striking luxury chandeliers and lamps inspired by his multicultural identity.
“There’s a lot of eastern aestheticism, kind of like layered into our work,” said Pomp.
His products can be found in homes, hotels, and galleries.
“What’s unique and special about what we do here, and I’m very proud of it, is that we truly make everything from raw materials to finished goods inside our own facility,” said Pomp.
The artist, whose father is white and whose mother is a Chinese immigrant from Hong Kong, faced bullying and racism while growing up in rural Pennsylvania during the 1970s, experiences that shaped his journey.
Feeling most at ease in an art studio, he initially wanted to become a painter, but a glassblowing class at Columbus College of Art and Design changed that path.
“At a certain point I knew that I didn’t fit in, and that’s OK, and I think that being able to really celebrate my differences and my uniqueness was my superpower,” said Pomp, who then took it upon himself to learn as much as he could.
Read more about John Pomp Studios at CBS News Philadelphia.
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