The glass healer
- Ana attended glass labs at Boisbuchet with Vitra Design School and Corning Museum
- She is the author of the book 'Painting and Cerebral Paralysis'
- She likes to work on small and large formats of the same design
Ana Viñuela came into contact with glasswork after years of working with enamel firing and porcelain decoration. She studied at the National Glass Centre Foundation in Segovia while living in Pamplona and dedicated her time to nursing and motherhood. Glasswork renewed Ana’s passion for travel and cross-cultural exchange. Her formative years were carefully scheduled with courses with master teachers and glassworkers she sought, not only in Spain, but abroad too. Today, Ana produces short collections of sculptural accessories and jewellery, and works on commissions for dedicated spaces. She works with various techniques, from flame work to kiln and casting to give life to the healing qualities of intense colour and light through her designs.
Interview
- How are nursing and glasswork related for you?
- Art is therapeutical. I sought it as a way to deal with grief when I was a health worker and then taught my craft to disabled children from Colegio Virgen de Orreaga – Cerebral Paralysis Centre from 1997 onwards. As an artist, I am a light bearer, healing people and spaces through aesthetic beauty.
- What was your first glass creation?
- I worked with blue glass bottle remains from the National Glass Centre Foundation. I created a clay mould with refractory plaster and then the melted glass was cast. I still have it with me as a collection piece in my workshop.
- How do you market your work and give yourself visibility?
- My jewellery work is easier to market as the exhibition potential is greater through wear. Large format, sculptural pieces, on the other hand, I market through art and craft fairs and galleries. I have been in important venues like Venice Glass Week, Eunique, Joya Barcelona and most recently, The Italian Glass Weeks.
- How do travel and culture nurture your work?
- I inherited the wanderlust spirit from my grandfather and my family has supported my constant search for masters in various corners of the world. My curious mind finds inspiration in architecture, textiles and colour. I am also an avid reader, fond of ancient cultures and their knowledge.
Ana Viñuela is a master artisan: she began her career in 2000 and she started teaching in 1997
Where
Ana Viñuela
