A-mazing Danish stained glass exhibition

Stained glass works by 13 renowned artists will be displayed in a new exhibition at Glas – Museum of Glass Art in Ebeltoft, Denmark, opening on 20 January 2024.

Entitled ‘The Maze’, the exhibition layout transforms the museum into a labyrinth of colours, figures and stories. It includes works by some of Denmark’s most well-known artists who have worked with stained glass, painted glass and glass mosaic. The exhibition combines works by two younger artists, Esben Weile Kjær and Dutch artist Jeannette Slütter, with works on loan from the master glazier Per Steen Hebsgaard, who has worked closely with the artists for many years.

Other artists represented in the show include Jens Birkemose, Ursula Reuter Christiansen, Erik A Frandsen, Per Kirkeby, Malene Landgreen, Mie Mørkeberg, Bjørn Nørgaard, Inka Sigel, Jan Sivertsen, Arne Haugen Sørensen and Niels Winkel.

The works in the exhibition are integrated into temporary walls, transforming the museum space into a maze. Guests are invited on a journey into the maze and can explore the works from different angles and in various light along the way.

The works are all flat glass panels produced using classic glazing techniques. Visitors will be able to see through the architecture and through some of the works to see a glimpse of other works integrated in the walls behind.

Many different motifs and artistic expressions are included. There are studies of colour, form, line and rhythm in abstract compositions, such as those of Malene Landgreen, Jens Birkemose and Inka Sigel. There are imaginative stories about animals, nature and people by, among others, Jan Sivertsen, Niels Winkel, Ursula Reuter Christiansen and Mie Mørkeberg. There are conceptual reinterpretations of leaded glass panels in a contemporary context by Jeannette Slütter and Esben Weile Kjær. And then there are colourful, figurative compositions in glass mosaic by Arne Haugen Sørensen and Erik A.Frandsen, the 12 Apostles made in painted glass by Bjørn Nørgaard and Per Kirkeby’s graphic and expressive works that combine stained glass, mosaic and lead framing.

The exhibition is on until 29 September 2024 in the modern wing and 3 November 2024 in the old building.

Glas – Museum of Glass Art is at Strandvejen 8, 8400 Ebeltoft, Denmark. Find out more here.

Image: Detail from a stained glass panel by Esben Weile Kjær. Photo: Malle Madsen.