Glass artist

A Glass Artist is a skilled artisan who designs and creates artworks or functional objects using glass as the primary medium. Through techniques such as glassblowing, kiln-forming, stained glass, lampworking, or cold working, glass artists shape and manipulate molten or solid glass into intricate and expressive forms. Their work ranges from decorative pieces like vases and sculptures to architectural installations and fine art exhibitions. Glass Artists blend craftsmanship with creativity, often pushing the limits of the material to explore color, light, and transparency in unique ways.

Here are some typical duties performed by glass artists:

• Design and plan glass artworks or functional objects, considering form, color, and technique.
• Create pieces using techniques such as glassblowing, slumping, fusing, casting, engraving, and stained glass construction.
• Work with tools like blowpipes, kilns, torches, grinders, and molds to shape and finish glass pieces.
• Experiment with various types of glass, additives, and firing temperatures to achieve specific textures and visual effects.
• Repair or refine pieces after firing, using techniques like polishing, cutting, or sandblasting.
• Maintain studio equipment and follow safety procedures due to the high temperatures and sharp materials involved.
• Exhibit and sell work through galleries, craft fairs, online platforms, or commissioned projects.
• Document and photograph artworks for marketing, grant applications, or portfolio use.
• Collaborate with other artists, designers, or architects on installations or multidisciplinary projects.

The following job titles also refer to glass artist:

stained glass restorer
stained glass glazier
stained glass creator
stained glass designer & maker
stained glass artist
stained glass window maker
stained glass designer and maker
stained glass artist and conservator
stained glass artist & conservator
stained glass conservator
stained glass artist & restorer
stained glass artist and restorer

Glass Artists usually work in well-ventilated studios or hot shops equipped with kilns, furnaces, and specialized tools. The work environment involves exposure to high heat, molten materials, and sharp glass, requiring strict safety measures and protective equipment. Physical stamina and precision are essential, particularly for glassblowing or large-scale pieces. Work hours are generally flexible, though deadlines for commissions or exhibitions may require extended or irregular hours. Some glass artists also teach workshops or classes to share their skills and supplement their income.

While formal education is not mandatory, many Glass Artists hold a degree or diploma in glass art, fine arts, or crafts from an art school or university. Technical training through apprenticeships, studio residencies, or specialized workshops is also common and highly valuable. Mastery of different glass techniques often comes from years of hands-on practice. A strong portfolio demonstrating creativity, technical skill, and an understanding of glass as a material is essential for securing exhibitions, commissions, or gallery representation. Continuous experimentation and staying informed about innovations in glass art are key to success in this dynamic and challenging field.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Glass artist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to glass artist.

digital artist
drawing artist
conceptual artist
performance artist
street artist

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of glass artist.

• Labour legislation: Legislation, on a national or international level, that governs labour conditions in various fields between labour parties such as the government, employees, employers, and trade unions.
• Intellectual property law: The regulations that govern the set of rights protecting products of the intellect from unlawful infringement.
• Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.

These skills are necessary for the role of glass artist.

• Solder lead came joints: Soldering of lead came windows and joints.
• Add colour: Add the required colour according to specifications for tinting batch.
• Use color matching techniques: Apply specific techniques in order to match different colours.
• Design stained glass: Create sketches and designs for stained glass objects, e.g. windows.
• Cut glass: Use glass cutting tools or diamond blades to cut pieces out of glass plates, including mirrors.
• Contextualise artistic work: Identify influences and situate your work within a specific trend which may be of an artistic, aesthetic, or philosophical natures. Analyse the evolution of artistic trends, consult experts in the field, attend events, etc.
• Determine image composition: Determine image composition, select and adjust subjects, equipment and lighting to achieve desired effects.
• Define artistic approach: Define your own artistic approach by analysing your previous work and your expertise, identifying the components of your creative signature, and starting from these explorations to describe your artistic vision.
• Gather reference materials for artwork: Gather samples of the materials you expect to use in the creation process, especially if the desired piece of art necessitates the intervention of qualified workers or specific production processes.
• Develop design concept: Research information to develop new ideas and concepts for the design of a specific production. Read scripts and consult directors and other production staff members, in order to develop design concepts and plan productions.
• Create tube hinges: Assemble tube hinges for stained glass objects, e.g. windows or boxes.
• Select filler metal: Select optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.
• Develop design ideas cooperatively: Share and develop design ideas with the artistic team. Conceptualise new ideas independently and with others. Present your idea, gain feedback and take it into account. Make sure the design fits with the work of other designers.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of glass artist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Assess conservation needs: Assess and list the needs for conservation/restoration, in relation to current use and planned future use.
• Plan art educational activities: Plan and implement artistic facilities, performance, venues and museum-related educational activities and events.
• Develop educational resources: Create and develop educational resources for visitors, school groups, families and special interest groups.
• Develop artistic project budgets: Develop artistic project budgets for approval, estimating deadlines and material costs.
• Develop educational activities: Develop speeches, activities and workshops in order to foster access and comprehension to the artistic creation processes. It can address a particular cultural and artistic event such as a show or an exhibition, or it can be related to a specific discipline (theatre, dance, drawing, music, photography etc.). Liaise with storytelles, craftspeople and artists.
• Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
• Present exhibition: Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
• Participate in artistic mediation activities: Participate in cultural and artistic mediation activities: announce the activity, give a presentation or talk related to a piece of art or an exhibition, teach a class or a group, lead artistic mediation activities, lead or participate in a public discussion.

2651 – Visual artists

---

References

1. Glass artist – ESCO
2. Featured image: Photo by cottonbro studio