Exploring glass through colour
- Monique makes creative glass bowls, vases and artworks with kiln-forming techniques
- Blended colours and textures are central to her aesthetic
- As a self-taught glass artist, attending other artists’ workshops was essential to her creative growth
Monique Wolter, a glass artist based at the German-Luxembourg border, found her calling in glasswork in her fifties, inspired by life’s challenges and a desire for creative expression. Renowned for her work with colourful bullseye glass, she specialises in advanced kiln-formed techniques, such as glass fusion, sagging, and pâte de verre. Monique's body of work explores colour blending and texture to transform glass beyond its traditional transparency, creating vibrant, three-dimensional pieces. Influenced by international workshops and masterclasses with celebrated glass artists, Monique continues to experiment, teach, and refine her craft, earning recognition from institutions, galleries, and museums.
Interview
- What makes working with bullseye glass so special to you?
- Bullseye glass is truly exceptional due to its wide range of vibrant colours and versatile styles, offering endless creative possibilities. Its ability to be re-melted up to seven times adds flexibility to my process. Since my techniques require consistent expansion rates for each colour, I depend on bullseye's unparalleled quality and precision.
- What is the pâte de verre technique?
- Pâte de verre is a glass casting technique in which fine glass powders or frits are pressed into a mould to create detailed pieces. The process involves creating a wax model, encasing it in plaster, removing the wax, and filling the mould with glass powder before firing. Afterwards, the piece is often ground and polished for refinement.
- What role have workshops and masterclasses played in your journey as a glass artist?
- I have always been fascinated by the glass art scene. My own journey began with a flame-working course on hollow glass spheres. Learning from admired artists in workshops, including masterclasses in the UK and USA has been invaluable. I now also enjoy offering my own workshops to inspire and teach others.
- What role do colour and texture play in your creations?
- Colours and textures are central to my art. I approach each piece with careful planning, crafting concepts for colour combinations and patterns in advance. I love blending vibrant hues and intricate textures to create depth and movement, often inspired by fleeting moments like skies or the folds of fabric, all reimagined in glass.
Monique Wolter is a rising star: she began her career in 2019 and she started teaching in 2021
Where
Monique Wolter
