Artist's Background

Tony Nichols is a self-taught folk artist and retired Army officer. Calling Manhattan, Kansas home and operating under the name Kickin’ Glass Kansas, he creates detailed stained-glass mosaics on vintage, wood framed windows and modified picture frames. Subject matter for the art revolves around Kansas themes and reflects his family’s love of the Flint Hills. Sunflowers, cows, chickens and prairie landscapes remain the most popular. Over the course of sixteen years he has continued to develop the glass / resin medium that brings out the absolute sparkle in the stained glass. Each piece contains thousands of hand-cut pieces and is finished with paint and grout. After the violence of three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tony uses the detail- oriented mosaic work to find peace in the world around him. He is an active voice in the military community who encourages other veterans, both active duty and retired, to use art in their personal healing process.