Fragile mastery: How Tonney became a master glass artist

Glass artist Tonney Mugo during a workshop session at his glass studio in Karen Village, Nairobi on January 2, 2025. 

Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group

A church near you likely bears his signature, but the most famous of Tonney Mugo’s works is the glass art structure at the entrance of the Kenya National Museum—a masterpiece poised to outlive its creator. Tonney , a pioneer of glass artistry in Kenya, works quietly in a studio punctuated by soft jazz and the deliberate clinking of tools.

Tonney’s journey into glass art is as intricate as his creations. Born into a military family, he was among the first students of Moi Forces Academy in 1980.

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