8 Pieces of Contemporary Stained Glass Art that Prove the Craft Isn't Dead

8 Contemporary Stained Glass Artists Who Are Redefining the Ancient Craft

By Emma Taggart on April 19, 2018

Sigmar Polke

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

A post shared by Flora Jamieson Stained Glass (@theroundwindow) on Jun 19, 2017 at 12:02am PDT

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.”

A post shared by Flora Jamieson Stained Glass (@theroundwindow) on Oct 2, 2017 at 11:17pm PDT

Elena Zaycman

A post shared by Elena Zaycman | glass designer (@hello.elena) on Nov 17, 2017 at 12:23am PST

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

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.”