The Columbus Museum invites the community to pull up a chair and enjoy Daily Special: The Art of John Miller, on view from August 12, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

This colorful and nostalgic exhibition serves up a visual feast of American food favorites, all set within an environment reminiscent of 1950s and 1960s diners and other roadside eateries. Miller’s exuberant, oversized glass sculptures of hamburgers, French fries, frosty soft drinks, and decadent donuts seem to pop right off the plate and into the gallery. Drawing inspiration from the Pop Art movement and the soft sculptures of Claes Oldenburg, Miller creates works that are playful, larger-than-life, and instantly relatable.

But Daily Special is more than a showcase of bold glass artistry—it’s a deeply personal story. Miller grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, where his father owned a motorcycle dealership. Some of his fondest memories are of exploring diners with his parents and working on vintage cars alongside his dad. These experiences, tied to both food and cars, remain at the heart of his artistic vision.

“Diners and the culture of the 1950s and 1960s were such a big part of my childhood with my family, and cars were a way I connected with my dad,” said Miller. “This show is really a reflection of my life—it’s personal, nostalgic, and fun.”

Miller discovered glass as an undergraduate at Southern Connecticut State University and went on to earn an M.F.A. in sculpture from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Beginning in 1993, he worked at the acclaimed Pilchuck Glass School, co-founded by Dale Chihuly, in Stanwood, Washington, later becoming an instructor there. He now leads the glass studio as associate professor at the Wonsook Kim School of Fine Arts at Illinois State University. His work has been exhibited and recognized nationally at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, the Flint Institute of Arts, and the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami, and internationally in Armenia, France, and Belgium.

“We are thrilled to bring John Miller’s incredible work to Columbus in this engaging, playful, and technically astonishing exhibition. His art brings joy and wonder to the everyday,” said Marianne Richter, Director of The Columbus Museum. “By transforming something as universal as food into monumental and exuberant glass sculptures, he creates an experience that is both familiar and delightfully unexpected.”

Special Community Program: Daily Special Month
Throughout September 2025, The Columbus Museum is partnering with local eateries for a fun tie-in to the exhibition. Participating restaurants will feature their own “daily special” menu items inspired by the playful themes of John Miller’s work. Visitors can enjoy everything from colorful donuts to classic burgers and fries around town — and discover how the spirit of Daily Special comes alive beyond the Museum walls. A full list of participating restaurants will be available at comuga.org and onsite at the Museum.

Restaurants that want to participate can contact Kristen Hudson at [email protected].

Related Programs & Events
In celebration of Daily Special: The Art of John Miller, The Columbus Museum will host a variety of special programs for all ages:

Member Preview Days | August 9 & 10
Kids Watercolor Workshop | August 16 & 23
Glassmaking Pumpkin Workshop | September 12 – 14
Diners, Drive-Ins, & Daily Specials | September 20 | 4 PM Tour with John Miller, followed by food trucks, artmaking, a classic car display, and an outdoor screening of American Graffiti on the front lawn at dusk.
Fall Festival | October 18
Art Unwrapped: American Glass | October 30
Glassmaking Ornament & Snowman Workshop | November 7 – 9

At-a-Glance

Exhibition: Daily Special: The Art of John Miller
Dates: August 12, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Special Program: Daily Special Restaurant Month, September 2025
Highlight Event: Diners, Drive-Ins, & Daily Specials, September 20
Admission: FREE at COMU
Website: comuga.org