Eva Falkenberg: emotions crystalised in glass

Eva Falkenberg is a Norwegian artist and sculptor specializing in glass. Inspired by nature and cultural diversity, she creates timeless, colourful pieces showcasing the beautiful possibilities of glasswork.

An ancient art form, glassmaking dates at least as far back as 3500 BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. It’s an art form that stretches across both timelines and physical borders, and has birthed everything from Roman glassblowing to iconic Islamic glass, and of course the infamous Norman stained glass. Centuries later, the world has borne witness to a wave of creativity, where technology and modern artists’ minds intersect to form fascinating, contemporary styles of glass art.

Growing up in an artistic family, Eva Falkenberg has been surrounded by arts and crafts for as long as she can remember. It’s no surprise that her own life and path has been shaped by creativity, and she graduated from both the National School of Glass in Sweden and University for the Creative Arts in the UK. Today, she’s an artist and sculptor specialising in glass.

“My working process often combines both hot and cold glass techniques,” says Falkenberg. “As both an artist and a craftsman, I am responsible for every part of the making process, from the design sketch to the final result.”

Even after more than a decade of working with glass, Falkenberg says there is still more to discover about the material. “For over ten years, glass has been the primary medium of my work, yet it continues to spark curiosity and inspiration in me,” she says. “I look forward to exploring more about the material, while also developing my own artistry. It’s truly an exciting, lifelong process.”

A timeless, versatile, and rewarding medium

Whether you’re an avid art museum visitor or just someone who appreciates beauty in everyday life, you’ve likely been captivated by the awe-inspiring properties or colours of glass at some point in your life – stained glass in a church, a vase in an antique shop, or the little figurines in your grandmother’s cabinet. When used in art, glass can be highly versatile and offers an almost unlimited potential for artistic expression.

Working with glass is time-consuming and requires technical skill, patience and precision. Falkenberg says that when glass has gone through the annealing process and cooled, it takes hours of engraving, slipping and polishing before a piece can be considered finished. Still, it’s a rewarding and meditative process.

“I’m drawn to the qualities of glass as a medium that allows me to express my thoughts and ideas through layers, colours, and light. It’s also a material that can be shaped in both hot and cold states, using a range of traditional and experimental techniques. I think I enjoy the process of glassmaking so much because there’s always more to learn.”

Captivated by the colours and movements of glass, Falkenberg often finds inspiration in the creative process itself. “A lot of my inspiration comes from the natural world,” she says. “There’s something enticing about the hot, glowing molten glass that reminds me of rock melts or lava. Even later, I find parallels between the processes of glassmaking and mineral formation.”

In addition to nature, Falkenberg is heavily inspired by different cultures. Throughout her life, she says she’s had the privilege of learning, travelling, and experiencing new places and cultures. Her work reflects on questions of globalisation, identity, and belonging. “I also often ponder about how our experiences shape our identity and make us unique,” she says.

Web: www.evafalkenberg.com
Instagram: @evafalkenberg_glass