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Draft:Scott Parsons

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This article is about the American architectural artist and painter.

Scott Parsons
Parsons outside his studio, 2020
EducationUniversity of Colorado, Boulder; Augustana University
OccupationArtist
Years active1990-present
Known forStained Glass, Mosaic, Terrazzo
Notable workArchitectural Stained Glass; Franciscan Renewal Center, Our Lady of Loreto, Orlando International Airport, Minneapolis International Airport
Websitewww.scottparsons.art

Scott Parsons (born 1964 in Englewood, Colorado) is an American artist, known for his large-scale public art projects in stained glass, mosaic, and terrazzo. He studied art at Augustana University (BA) and the University of Colorado (MFA). The artist developed his contemporary approach to stained glass with Glashütte Lamberts[1] and Derix Glasstudios[2] in Germany. His studio is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States.

Scott Parsons Studio

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Scott Parsons received his first public art commission in 1992 for the Nobel Peace Prize Forum held at Augustana University.[3] Partnering with city and state arts boards,[4] contractors,[5] private institutions, and architectural firms, Parsons creates site-specific public art for airports,[6] churches,[7] transportation hubs,[8] hospitals,[9] recreation centers,[10] museums,[11] and university buildings.[12] The artist undertakes each commission as an opportunity to enhance the livability and spirituality of a community.[13] Parsons has created more than thirty-five public art commissions in the United States and Canada, including six airports. His work is reviewed in Art in America,[14] Architectural Record,[15] Sculpture,[16] Stained Glass,[17] and Public Art Review.[18]

Parsons creates architectural stained glass, often on a monumental scale, using digital and hand-painted materials to create his layered imagery with its affinity to contemporary graphic design.[19] His art uses metaphor to evoke an individual and communal sense of memory[20] and belonging.[21] “An authentic art survives stylistic evolutions over time to become a benchmark of art history. In this regard, I believe historians will judge Scott Parsons’s work as being authentic, original, and (most importantly) a contribution to the historical trajectory of stained glass in architecture.”[22]

Architectural projects include nine award-winning stained glass windows[23] based on Saint Francis’ Canticle of the Sun at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Paradise Valley, Arizona.[24] Ten clerestory windows at Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Parish in Foxfield, Colorado, focus on the abstract idea of angels as pure intelligence through the symbolism of fire and heat.[25] The ceramic mosaic Jardín de los Sueños at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary includes a contribution by the Justice Sonia Sotomayor.[26] Parsons’ Starwheel navigational terrazzo at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reflects the historical movements of people across the Minnesota landscape.[27] Parsons largest work to date, Rainbow's End, a collaborative work with artist David Griggs at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, is over 80,000 sq. ft. is size.[28] His four terrazzo floors located in the north terminal at the Orlando International Airport were poured from 68 colors of epoxy terrazzo.[29] The Stations of the Cross glass mosaics at Saint Michaels in Sioux Falls, South Dakota received a Faith & Form Award.[30] Star Calendar tracks a map of the stars in 21 indigenous languages.[31] During the summer solstice, people gather at sunrise in the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado[32] to witness beams of sunlight project through the Solstice Window to form a spiral in the museum’s great hall.[33]

Parsons recently spoke at the 2025 American Glass Guild conference in Mesa, Arizona. The artist lives in South Dakota with his family and is Professor of Art at Augustana University. He serves on the board of directors for the Association of Consultants for Liturgical Space and the Visual Arts Committee for the City of Sioux Falls.

Bibliography

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Book Reviews

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  • The Economic Power of Public Art, Kristian Petrov Iliev, Jenifer Wetterau, Sally Kraus, CODAworx, 2024
  • Linnich, Deutsches Glasmalerei-Museum (2022). Deutsches Glasmalerei-Museum Linnich - Glanzlicher einer bedeutenden Kunst (in German). Linnich: Deutsches Glasmalerei-Museum. ISBN 978-3-946278-06-1.
  • Jung, Christine (2016). Raum fur kunst aus Glas (in German). Geisenheim: Rheingau Druck und Design. ISBN 978-3-00-054355-5.
  • Lippard, Lucy R. (1997). The Lure of the Local. New York: New Press. ISBN 978-1-56584-248-9.

References

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  1. ^ "Artist - Lamberts Glass". lamberts.de. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  2. ^ ""Aspire" Public Art Installation". Derix Glasstudios. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  3. ^ Karasov, Deborah (1997-09-01). "Public Art Review issue 17 - 1997 (fall/winter)". Issuu. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  4. ^ "Art project to add character, color to new Aurora rec center". AP News. 2017-05-26. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  5. ^ "David Griggs: Aspire at Aurora Central Recreation Center". Demiurge LLC. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  6. ^ "References". Mayer'sche Hofkunstanstalt. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  7. ^ "New stained-glass windows in Denver area evoke presence of angels". The Denver Post. 2014-12-20. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  8. ^ Yabrove, Zoe. "RTD art: Scott Parsons at the Lakewood and Wadsworth station". Westword. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  9. ^ Studios, Hempel (2024-10-03). "Essentia Health – St. Mary's Medical Center". Association of Consultants for Liturgical Spaces. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  10. ^ "Aspire in Aurora, CO". Public Art Archive. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  11. ^ "Summer Solstice at the Center". Center of Southwest Studies. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  12. ^ "CCIS Floor & Points of Interest | Faculty of Science". www.ualberta.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  13. ^ Lambert, Aaron (2016-06-07). "Rosary mysteries stun in abstract windows". Denver Catholic. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  14. ^ "2002 In Review: Public Art". Art in America: 57. 2003.
  15. ^ "NTMA: Job of the Year" (PDF). Architectural Record. 2003 (9): 4. July 28, 2025.
  16. ^ "Commissions in Brief". Sculpture. 17 (8). October 1998 – via International Sculpture Center.
  17. ^ Parsons, Scott (Summer 2012). "Gloria Dei". Stained Glass. 107 (2): cover, 140–144.
  18. ^ "Recent Projects". Public Art Review. 13 (1): 48. Fall–Winter 2001 – via umedia.lib.umn.edu.
  19. ^ von Roenn, Kenneth (Spring 2017). "The Work of Scott Parsons at Our Lady of Loreto Church". Stained Glass. 112 (1): 34–41.
  20. ^ Uyehara, Denise (Spring 1993). "Counter-Memorial". High Performance. 16 (1): 19 – via Getty Research Collections.
  21. ^ Olson, Virginia. "Scott Parsons' mission is public art". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  22. ^ von Roenn, Kenneth (2017). "Back to a Stained-Glass Future: The Work of Scott Parsons at Our Lady of Loreto Church and Gothic Stained Glass" (PDF). Faith & Form. 50 (2): 25–27 – via US Modernist.
  23. ^ "Gallery of Faith & Form's 2018 Program Recognizes the Best in Religious Architecture and Art - 8". ArchDaily. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  24. ^ Schwab, OFM, Joseph (Fall 2017). "Windows of Inspiration: Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Angels" (PDF). The Way of St. Francis. 22 (3): 18–20 – via Franciscan Friars of California.
  25. ^ O’Connor, Colleen (December 22, 2014). "New stained-glass windows in Denver area evoke presence of angels". The Denver Post. p. 1. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  26. ^ "SCOTT PARSONS- El Jardín de los Sueños". MOSAIKA. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  27. ^ Welbes, John (2012-10-09). "Twin Cities airport's Humphrey expansion sets stage for growth". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  28. ^ "Public Art & Design Broward Cultural Division Public Art and Design Directory - Artwork Information". www.broward.org. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  29. ^ Palm, Matthew (2018-09-05). "New 'welcome mats' are latest addition to Orlando International Airport's art". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  30. ^ Places, Partners for Sacred. "Winners of the 2022 Faith & Form International Awards for Religious Architecture & Art Announced". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  31. ^ Miller, Joe (November–December 1998). "Concrete Amnesia". Art Papers. 22 (6): 25 – via Art Papers Archives.
  32. ^ "Summer Solstice Window Viewing". 360Durango.com. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  33. ^ Rodebaugh, Dale. "Spiraling summer solstice at FLC". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
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