When discussing Czech glass, it is impossible not to think of the work of Latchezar Boyadjiev. For decades we have been mesmerized by Boyadjiev’s work, and wondered just how this artist keeps wowing glass enthusiasts & gallerists alike. The answer is an undeniable talent, and an artistic vision that we could only hope to catch a glimpse of. Today, we will be discussing the romantic and most spiritual technique which is Czech style glass, and the way Boyadjiev makes this process his own.
In 1985 Latchezar Boyadjiev studied at The Academy of Applied Arts in the Czech Republic, under renowned artist Stanislav Libensky. After graduating from the academy, he moved to California to pursue his career in optic glass. Boyadjiev defined his artistic style by incorporating techniques like cold working, grinding, polishing, and laminating. Wanting to scale his sculptures up in size, he started to use the cast glass method. Casting glass is when the artist forms their sculpture with a clay mold, then works the positive and negative models to create the finished plaster mold. It is then filled with glass particles and is placed in a kiln. It is there that the fusing process begins. Once the sculpture has properly annealed in the kiln, it will be popped out of its mold and prepared for cold working. Boyadjiev created a style where he partially grinds his work in areas while giving the other section a fine polish. This creates many dimensions within the piece and allows an exposed view into the glass.
written by – Jacqueline Glass (sales consultant at Habatat Galleries)
