Pneuma: In Stoic Philosophy, PNEUMA (Greek: πνεῦμα) is the breath of life, a mixture of the elements air (in motion) and fire (as warmth). Originating among Greek medical writers who located human vitality in the breath, pneuma for the Stoics is the active, generative principle that organizes both the individual and the cosmos. In its highest form, the pneuma constitutes the human soul (psychê), which is a fragment of the pneuma that is the soul of God. As a force that structures matter, it exists even in inanimate objects.
Pneuma Glass
The name “Pneuma” comes from ancient Greek philosophy, meaning breath or spirit. At Pneuma Glass, we breathe this essence into every piece—handcrafted works inspired by the vibrant spirit of the Pacific Northwest and the natural rhythms of the world around us. Each creation carries its own character and voice, shaped through an intuitive dance with molten glass.
Our art lives in the tension between control and surrender, intention and spontaneity. Through this process, energy and breath merge with the material, forming timeless works that transcend the maker—alive with the same spirit that inspired them.
Artist Biography
Johnathon Tardif’s journey with glass began in the Black Forest of Germany at age eleven, when he first encountered the ancient craft of glassblowing. Watching molten glass transform into form and light sparked a fascination that would shape his life’s work.
His path led him to Maui, where he immersed himself in glass. He took his first class at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, which opened the door to an apprenticeship at a local glass studio on the island. Later, he returned to Oregon, expanding his craft through collaborations with studios and glass masters across the U.S. and abroad. In 2018, his studies at the Penland School of Craft proved transformative, solidifying both his technical foundation and his personal artistic voice.
In 2020, Johnathon founded Pneuma Glass—a studio born from the belief that glass, like breath, carries life and transformation.
Drawing inspiration from nature and his travels, his work bridges realism and abstraction. From Oregon’s tranquil landscapes to the vibrant textures of distant places, he captures the essence of movement, impermanence, and renewal.
His current focus, the Crackle Series, reveals a deep exploration of fragility and strength. By shattering molten glass and reshaping it while still glowing with heat, he exposes layers of color and form that embody the resilience of the human spirit—a reminder that beauty often emerges through fracture.
Artist Statement
Glass is a living material—it breathes, flows, and transforms. My work explores this movement as both a physical and emotional process. By breaking and reshaping the surface, I seek to capture the tension between destruction and rebirth, fragility and endurance.
Each crack and fissure becomes part of the story—evidence of transformation and survival. For me, the act of making is as much about surrender as it is about control; it’s a reflection of life’s unpredictable rhythm and the beauty found in imperfection.
My hope is that the work invites viewers to see themselves in that reflection—to find strength in vulnerability, and to recognize that what is broken can still shine.
The Crackle Emergence
The Crackle Series marks a defining evolution in Pneuma Glass. Emerging from years of experimentation, this body of work explores the dialogue between exterior and interior—between hardness and fragility, tension and grace. Each piece begins with a deliberate act of breaking: molten glass is submerged in water, shattering the surface into intricate networks of cracks.
Through this process, the inside-out pieces emerged—works that reveal vivid interior colors beneath a fractured shell. These contrasts reflect the human condition: the resilient beauty within that persists despite life’s external pressures. The work becomes a meditation on endurance, transformation, and the quiet power of maintaining beauty within chaos.
Contact & Inquiries
For inquiries about wholesale, commissions, installations, or upcoming collections—or simply to share how a piece lives in your space—reach out at contact@pneumaglass.com or on Instagram @pneumaglass.
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