CULTURAL GROUP:
Tlingit

BORN:
1963

BIRTHPLACE:
San Francisco, California

Shortly after graduating high school, Singletary (who was actively pursuing a career as a musician at the time) was asked by to work as a night watchman at what was then the Glass Eye, a Seattle glass-blowing studio. Singletary quickly moved from being night watchman to working the day shift to eventually joining one of the studio's production teams. In 1984, Singletary took part in a workshop at Pilchuck Glass School for the first time. He has since been involved in Pilchuck as a teacher, student, and more recently as a member of its board of trustees. In the late 1980s, Singletary began incorporating traditional Tlingit themes into his work and reaching out to other Northwest Coast artists like Joe David, from whom he learned more about Native culture including Northwest Coast formline design. In his words, "When I began working with glass in 1982, I had no idea that I'd be so connected to the material in the way that I am. It was only when I began to experiment with using designs from my Tlingit cultural heritage that my work began to take on a new purpose and direction. Over time, my skill with the material of glass and traditional form line design has strengthened and evolved, allowing me to explore more fully my own relationship to both my culture and chosen medium. My work with glass transforms the notion that Native artists are only best when traditional materials are used. It has helped advocate on the behalf of all Indigenous people—affirming that we are still here—that that we are declaring who we are through our art in connection to our culture." In 2022 Singletary became a Fellow of the American Craft Council. As such, several of his pieces were acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of the Renwick Gallery's 50th Anniversary Campaign

Singletary co-founded and plays bass in the band Khu.éex’

In 2024, Singletary and artist David Franklin were selected to create a site-specific public art sculpture at the Pioneer Square transit stop in Seattle, in addition to several other public art projects nationally.