Vladimira Klumpar is a renowned Czech glass artist born in 1954 in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Czech Republic. Her artistic journey began with her education in glassmaking and has since led to an illustrious career spanning several decades.

Education

Klumpar’s formal education in glass art began at the Specialized School of Glassmaking in Železný Brod, Czech Republic, where she studied from 1969 to 1973. She then continued her education at the prestigious Academy of Applied Arts (now known as the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design) in Prague from 1974 to 1981. During her time at the academy, she studied under the renowned Professor Stanislav Libenský, who significantly influenced her approach to glass as an artistic medium.

Artistic Style and Influences

Klumpar’s work is characterized by a unique blend of geometric and organic forms, often featuring voluptuous curves that reflect her intimate relationship with nature. Her sculptures engage in a dialogue between contradictory elements, combining delicate glass with reinforced plaster. The interplay of light and reflection in her glass pieces imbues her simple forms with optical energy.

Her artistic style has been influenced by various experiences and environments. The picturesque towns of Bohemia’s foothills, where she grew up, and the beauty of historical Prague during her university years, undoubtedly shaped her aesthetic sensibilities. Later, her time in the United States and Mexico significantly impacted her work, influencing her approach to color and form.

Awards and Grants

Throughout her career, Klumpar has received several prestigious awards and grants:

• 1981: School Award of the Academy of Applied Arts, Prague, Czechoslovakia
• 1991: New England Artist Foundation Fellowship
• 1991: Massachusetts Artist Foundation Fellowship
• 1997: Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
• 2007: Corning Museum Award Winner, Invitational Habatat Galleries, MI
• 2010: Corning Museum Award Winner, Invitational Habatat Galleries, MI
  
  

Exhibitions

Klumpar has exhibited her work extensively both in solo and group exhibitions across Europe and the United States. Some notable solo exhibitions include:

• 2019: “Vibrace”, Galerie Kuzebauch, Prague, Czech Republic
• 2017: Heller Gallery, New York City, New York, USA
• 2014: “Fauna a Flora” Galeria Nova, Bratislava, Slovakia
• 2012: Tajemství světla, Východočeská galerie, Pardubice, Czech Republic
• 2005: Galerie Pokorná, Prague, Czech Republic
• 2003: “Vladimira Klumpar – Works from 1986 to 1998”, Chappel Gallery, New York City, NY
  
  

She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions, including the Glass America Exhibition at Heller Gallery in New York (1988-1995) and the Annual International Glass Invitational Exhibitions at Habatat Gallery in Detroit (1990-1991).

Collections

Klumpar’s work is represented in several public and private collections across Europe and North America, including:

• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
• Lannan Foundation, Palm Beach, FL
• Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, NC
• American Arts and Craft Museum, New York, NY
• Museum of Art, Liberec, Czech Republic
• North Bohemian Museum, Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic
• Wustum Museum of Art, Racine, WI
  
  

Vladimira Klumpar’s contributions to the field of glass art have been significant, blending traditional Czech glassmaking techniques with innovative approaches to form, color, and light. Her work continues to be celebrated for its philosophical depth, poetic playfulness, and ability to resonate with audiences worldwide.