Patrick Roth

Glass sculptor

©Ivo Vogel

Insights on the world

Patrick has had a long career in glass working
Through glass, he expresses his thoughts on the world around him
For three years he was the workshop manager at J&L Lobmeyr

Patrick Roth attended a glass trade school, where he specialised in glass cutting and finishing. For ten years after graduating, he worked in industry in various companies. He spent three years as workshop manager at the renowned Vienna glass manufacturer J&L Lobmeyr. "It was there that I discovered that I can give a face to almost any creative idea," he says. Patrick taught at a glass school in Rheinbach for several years before opening his own studio in Bregenz in 2016. Today, his focus is on free sculpting. Patrick's concepts and sculptures often revolve around human behaviour and its consequences. Global political events, social, economic, and ecological grievances are inspirations for his creations. "The process of creating a sculpture is a unique experience each time."

Interview

©Ivo Vogel

©Ivo Vogel

Why is glass so fascinating to you?: Glass appeals to me because I enjoy looking beyond the obvious forms or surfaces. I want to use glass as a metaphorical medium that helps me express my thoughts about the world around me. The processing of glass is endless. In my opinion, no other material offers so many possibilities for multidimensional design. Particularly exciting to me are the contrasts that the material can showcase, sometimes even side-by-side in one piece. Smooth and sharp, strong and fragile, translucent and opaque.
Do you see aesthetics as playing a role in this?: I think glass is a particularly aesthetically beautiful material that has the ability to draw people in easily. This is especially true when it is well lit.
How do you go about executing your glass sculptures?: My free work revolves around two processes. Often I have a very clear inner vision of an object and go about implementing it with a great deal of focus. In contrast, if I am intrigued by a topic, I simply begin working and intuitively decide what the next step should be.
Did you enjoy your time at Lobmeyr?: Lobmeyr is a great family-run enterprise that is not only known for its quality, but also for its creativity. The company has been running for about 200 years. Working at Lobmeyr requires you to be technically perfect and precise, which also means paying close attention to details.

Patrick Roth is a master artisan: he began his career in 1997 and he started teaching in 2009