The tradition of making stained glass artworks dates back to the times of Ancient Rome. During that period, craftsmen created decorative wares with the help of diversely colored glass pieces. This type of art became more popular in the 7th century, with glass windows of churches, abbeys, and mosques decorated with colorful glass ornaments. Today, the tradition is far from obsolete; many contemporary stained glass artists are currently revising this craft and creating stunning artworks. Here are the top 4 artists you should know.

Top 4 Contemporary Stained Glass Artists

Glass art is not confined to monastery and church windows. It has become more widespread in common use, with some stained glass objects representing a unique esthetic value without religious overtones. Here is how contemporary stained glass artists experiment with this art and expand its boundaries.

Brian Clarke

Brian Clarke sees high poetics in stained glass art and strives to elevate it above the traditional perception of craftsmanship. He worked on a couple of high-profile stained glass projects, such as a stained glass wall in a Saudi Arabian skyscraper. Clarke has also had many collaborative projects with established architects, including Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster. Every stained glass masterpiece by Clarke is a cinematic drama that fuses botanical, biographical, and cosmological motifs.

Gerhard Richter

Another notable figure in the world of contemporary stained glass art is Gerhard Richter, who worked on the 75-foot-tall window of Cologne Cathedral. Richter developed a complex visual structure for the window using the classical Gothic window template and amplifying it with an advanced mathematical formula.

Flora Jamieson

Flora Jamieson is a British artist specializing in stained glass, who is knowledgeable about the traditions of different periods. From window and door panels to smaller commemorative pieces, Jamieson can create new works of art and restore old ones. She draws inspiration from natural themes and creates stained glass art with bold yet simple color choices and shapes.

Sigmar Polke

The German artist Sigmar Polke developed a fascination with stained glass as a medium of artistic creation. He used agate stones cut into thin slices to create a unique visual effect of light passing through and refracting in a variety of color shades. Polke was responsible for the project of adorning the Grossműnster Church in Zurich, where he applied his unique method and created several impressive figurative glass windows featuring scenes from the Old Testament.

As you can see, stained glass is a living form of art with many exciting innovations. Stay with us to learn more about stained glass artists and their creations.