lasitaide

Lasitaide, or glass art, is a field of visual art that uses glass as its primary medium. It includes sculpture, decorative objects, vessels, and architectural elements realized through techniques such as glassblowing, casting, kiln forming, fused and slumped glass, cold-working, and various forms of engraving or staining. The practice combines craft precision with artistic exploration of light, color, and transparency.

In Finland, the tradition blends craft production with design culture. The country developed a notable glass industry in the 20th century, and its designers helped elevate glassware into modern art. Important figures include Alvar Aalto, Tapio Wirkkala, and Kaj Franck, whose work with glass contributed to the international reputation of Finnish design. Finnish glass brands such as Iittala and Riihimäen Lasi have produced widely circulated objects as well as commissioned art pieces. Contemporary artists continue to explore form, materiality, and light, often working in collaboration with studios and manufacturers.

Techniques in lasitaide range from free-blown glass to mold-blown forms, sculpture in solid glass, lampworking, glass casting, fused and slumped glass, and cold-working such as engraving or etching. Artists may operate in studio settings, small workshops, or within industrial production environments to produce limited editions or unique works. The field emphasizes the interaction of color, texture, translucency, and illumination, with works ranging from intimate objects to large-scale installations.

Education and presentation occur through Finnish art and design schools, galleries, and museums, which maintain collections and host exhibitions of glass art. Notable venues include the Design Museum in Helsinki, among others worldwide, reflecting lasitaide’s ongoing, international vitality.