Kosta Boda Owl in Window Art Glass Sun Catcher

Notes: Bertil Vallien

Vallien, born in 1938, is one of Sweden's most famous designers and glass artists who has been designing glass for Kosta Boda since 1963. He is known for his focus on hand made pieces that could not be created by machine, highlight the contents of the vessels as well as adapt form to maximize functionality. Bertil studied at the University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm under Swedish ceramicist Stig Lindberg, graduating at the top of his class in 196. He then studied at the University of Southern California, becoming a celebrity in the ceramics circles. His studies were cut short when he was offered a position as a Afors, a Swedish ceramics factory where he was able to set up his own kiln and workshop. Although he continued to work with ceramics throughout the 60s, he turned to glass 2 years later and joined Kosta Boda. For Kosta Boda designed the both utilitarian items as well as art pieces. His Château collection of thin, elegant glass with optical elements became an immediate success and has become one of the world's best-selling handmade glassware collections ever. He designed Château in as little as a month, with inspiration from the glassworks' refined manufacturing techniques - Bertil saw them as the watchmakers of the glass kingdom - and with this as a starting point he focused on creating a glass collection that machines could not manufacture. Vallien has won a number of awards and prizes around the world. The Imagine Museum named him "Artist of the Future". He received the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' medal for his work as a designer, and in 2002 he was awarded the Visionary Award from the Glass Art Society. In 2023, Kosta Boda celebrated the 50th anniversary of his work at the company with special exhibits in NewYork and Stockholm of his newest works inspired by David Bowie and other personal influences. At 87, Vallien continues to produce art glass pieces under Kosta Boda and other works in his personal studio.