Merging past and present

Lukáš blew his first glass piece at the age of four
His father was a glass master, his mother a glass painter
He grew up in a renowned glassmaking town

At first glance, you wouldn't know objects so different in style could be made by the same artist. Bright Pop Art-style vases with disturbing one-word messages stand next to distinguished vessels with rich colours and agate-like patterns. But despite being diverse in style, Lukáš Novák's portfolio has one uniting feature: sophistication. His works result from a conceptual approach that combines deep knowledge with manual precision. "I love to lock myself in a library and search for links and connections. I often find inspiration in the archives of professional books," he says. Studying older techniques and using them in a contemporary context is the basis for Lukáš's conceptual thinking.

Lukáš Novák is a rising star: he began his career in 2016

Discover his work

Discover his work

Lost and Found – large iridescent vase

Lost and Found – large deep blue vase

Lost and Found – medium light red vase

Lost and Found – large Mars-red vase

Lost and Found – large gold brown vase

INTERVIEW

I build on it. I aim to reuse traditional glass techniques that have nowadays lost their adequacy, by taking advantage of modern technologies. For instance, the collection Lost and Found is based on a 200-year-old method of making lithyalin glass.

It's the mecca of world glassmaking. The town has really shaped me. I've been surrounded by glass since I was a child; my entire family worked with it. But at that time, it was a routine; I didn't see the magic. However, I went to a secondary glass school.

I met great personalities excelling in the field. I remember visiting the famous glass sculptor Yan Zoritchak. He suggested that I study at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. He put a bee in my bonnet. There, in his house, I said to myself: I want this.

I keep moving. I test my abilities and the possibilities of the material, revealing forgotten techniques. But it's not just about old methods. I love exhibitions since they make me redefine my direction and keep current with our contemporary times.