Brett Laffert is a self-taught artist whose creative journey has been anything but ordinary. Born and raised as one of five children in Granville, Massachusetts, Brett first began dabbling in art during his time living on Nantucket Island. What began as a casual experiment — a glass kit passed along by a friend — evolved into a passion for mosaic-style stained glass. Unlike traditional stained glass, Brett’s technique allows for intricate patterns using smaller pieces, grouted onto existing glass to achieve remarkable detail.

By trade, Brett spent over a decade as a culinary chef, owning and operating Coriander Café in Eastford, Connecticut. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought about major life changes, he leaned further into his creative side, expanding into pen and ink drawing, painting, and photography alongside his glass work. In 2021, Brett relocated to the Asheville, North Carolina area to pursue art more seriously, working at Mantiques in Brevard, where he also developed a deep appreciation for vintage goods and curiosities.

The sale of Mantiques in 2024 proved a pivotal moment, inspiring Brett to open his own studio, Filtered Light, named for the way sunlight transforms through stained glass. There, he created daily, often inspired by nature and history — from the elegance of birds to the grandeur of woolly mammoths and the mystery of deep-sea divers.

His first solo show, “Filtered Light at The Canteen”, marks a significant milestone. When asked about the opportunity, Brett shared, “It’s pretty exciting! I’ve had work in exhibits before, but never a solo show. It’s exciting and a little intimidating.”

While Brett is currently transitioning back to Massachusetts to care for family, he hopes to return to the mountains of North Carolina, the place he calls “home,” to continue creating.

Today, Brett’s work spans mosaic glass, pen and ink, painting, and photography — all tied together by a common thread: a deep reverence for life’s simple beauty and the filtered light that reveals it.