Habatat opened in 1971 and moved to Royal Oak in 2001. Ferdinand Hampson founded the gallery nine years after the notion of glass as art was conceived in a garage on the grounds of the Toledo Art Museum. Since its inception, more than 100 museum and art-center exhibitions have been hosted by the gallery, which at different points it called Dearborn, Pontiac, and Southfield home. The current space opened in 2001.

The museum’s mission is to service collectors both public and private. Habatat Detroit Fine Art works with many museums and art centers where it has developed exhibits that have been displayed in over 100 public institutions. Each year the museum is active in publishing catalogs, from exhibits in the gallery, as well as exhibitions throughout the world.

Beyond acting as a showcase and safe haven for glasswork, Habatat Galleries also has published extensive material on their corner of the art industry, including literature in 25 major catalogs, five books, and 50 art exhibition catalogs. The gallery also helped develop major collections at museums such as The Flint Institute of Art, The Ford Museum, The University of Michigan-Dearborn, Imagine Museum in Florida, The Fort Wayne Museum in Indiana, and the Museum Del Vitro in Mexico.

“For 50 years, Habatat Galleries has promoted, legitimized and elevated a new art material to a point of recognition by the art community,” said Ferdinand Hampson. “In 1963, the first course in glass was offered at the University of Wisconsin, and during the following decade, several colleges began programs. People involved with studio glass were the outsiders — not accepted or recognized by the fine art combine of museums, galleries, collectors and art publications.

According to freep.com; habatat.com; theoaklandpress.com. Source of photos: internet