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8 Contemporary Stained Glass Artists Who Are Redefining the Ancient Craft

Sigmar Polke

Contemporary Stained Glass Art

Photo: Graeme Churchard (CC BY 2.0)

In 2009, the late German artist Sigmar Polke created 12 decorative windows for the the Grossmünster cathedral in Zürich. Designed with a modern twist on traditional stained glass art, 7 of these windows were made from thinly sliced agate mosaics, resulting in a beautiful, bright kaleidoscopic pattern of semi-precious stones.

 

Flora Jamieson

Fusing contemporary design with traditional stained glass art, Flora Jamieson’s small panel pieces are inspired by graphic design, the natural world, organic forms and geometric patterns. In addition to her own contemporary glass art, Jamieson also reproduces and restores windows from the Victorian, Edwardian, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco eras.

“My favorite part of the stained glass process is choosing the glass colors – selecting just the right tones and shades so that they sing out next to each other. Once I have applied the paint and fired it in the kiln, something magical happens – seeing the contrast between the painted details and the vibrant colors, bringing the piece to life.”

 

Elena Zaycman

Inspired by the distinctive Tiffany glass products, Russian glass designer Elena Zaycman creates a stunning line of stained glass accessories. From brooches and earrings, to window “suncatchers” and plant pot ornaments, Zaycman’s nature-inspired illustrative designs are beautifully crafted by hand. You can shop her creations on Etsy.

 

William Lamson

Home Sweet Home

Designed and constructed by artist William Lamson, Solarium (previously at the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York) is a functional greenhouse with 162 windows made from caramelized sugar. Each sunshine-hue panel was made of sugar cooked to different temperatures and then sealed between two panes of window glass. In his artist statement Lamson explains, “Like a mountain chapel or Thoreau's one-room cabin, Solarium references a tradition of isolated outposts designed for reflection.”

 

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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