Dean Bensen and Demetra Theofanous work both independently and as a collaborative team.  Their work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is represented in numerous private and public collections.  They recently exhibited their collaborative works at the Ming Shangde Glass Museum in China where they received an award from the Chinese government.

Bensen’s early interests in art and environmental stewardship led him to the College of Idaho to study forestry and, eventually, art in the form of hot glass.  Back in California his art merged with his environmental concerns, creating his unique and distinctive style.  His work has been widely exhibited, including at the Imagine Museum, San Francisco Airport Museum, San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, the Oakland Airport Museum, and the Ming Shangde Glass Museum in China.  After earning a scholarship to Dale Chihuly’s Pilchuck Glass School, he helped create one of Chihuly’s famous chandeliers in Dubai.  Bensen is also an educator, teaching at institutions such as San Jose State University, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and Palo Alto High School where he was their first Artist in Residence.

Theofanous began her exploration of glass in 2004, and developed a technique for weaving glass that became the foundation of much of her body of work.  Collaboratively she works with Dean Bensen, to explore hyperrealism in natural forms, including large scale installations.  Internationally recognized for her sculpture, Theofanous’ notable exhibitions include:  The Ming Shangde Glass Museum in China, The Triennial of the Silicate Arts in Hungary, the Imagine Museum in Florida, the Museum of Northern California Art, the Bellevue Arts Museum in Washington and the de Young Museum in San Francisco.  As an educator she has taught at top institutions such as Pratt Fine Arts Center in Washington and Pittsburgh Glass Center.  She has served on the GAS Board and Co-Chaired the 2015 GAS Conference, and currently serves as Board President of the Glass Alliance of Northern California and Board President of the Art Alliance of Contemporary Glass.

Theofanous and Bensen met in 2004 , and their friendship soon evolved into a partnership, both in and outside of the studio.  In 2017, during an Artist in Residence at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, they began to merge their sculptural works culminating with a solo exhibition at the end of their residency.  They have continued to collaborate ever since and have works in numerous private and public collections including the permanent collection of the Imagine Museum, Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, and the Racine Art Museum.  In 2023, the received an Award of Excellence from Charles Shepard of the Fort Wayne Art Museum, for their collaborative work in the 51st annual Habatat International Exhibition.