Vladimir Klein
He has been working with glass since he was fifteen, first at the glassmaking school in Kamenický Šenov, cutting and engraving glass (1965–69), then at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in the studio of Prof. S. Libenský (1969–75). He returned to Kamenický Šenov as a teacher (1977-85) and later as director of the glassmaking school (1985-90). For four years (1991-95), he taught cold glass techniques at the newly established Institute of Glass Art in Toyama, Japan, followed mostly by his former Czech students. He teaches summer glass courses in Belgium, Germany, Turkey, the USA, and China. For eight years, he also worked as a chief designer at Crystalex Nový Bor (1997-2005), his designs known abroad under the Libera brand. He now devotes himself primarily to individual work, glass sculptures created by carving large blocks of cold glass with a chisel and hammer. He has participated in creative residencies in Germany, Japan, China... His works are part of the collections of major museums in the USA, Japan, China, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, and Czechia, and have won many awards in international competitions.
In the cutting workshop, you can see works in progress, and the author can demonstrate his glassworking technique, which is similar to stone carving. Visitors can also try it for themselves. The gallery displays both functional and communicative glass objects, i.e. sculptures. Visitors can purchase signed originals or order pieces made to their specifications. Extensive documentation of exhibitions and competitions, catalogs.
