Obituary: Brian Clarke (1953-2025)

It is with sadness we report the death of master architectural stained glass artist, Sir Brian Clarke DLitt, Hon FRIBA, who passed away on 1 July at the age of 71 after a short illness.

Clarke was noted for integrating his medium within architecture and was one of the most important contemporary artists working in stained glass, with his contribution to the arts ultimately recognised by his knighthood in 2024.

Born in Oldham, Lancashire on 2 July 1953, into a working class family, he won a scholarship to study at Oldham School of Arts and Crafts in 1965. Following a subsequent two years at Burnley College of Art, Clarke joined the architectural stained glass course at North Devon College of Art and Design in 1970.

Following a travelling fellowship to study medieval and contemporary stained glass in Italy, France and West Germany, Clarke designed 20 windows for the Church of St Lawrence, Longridge, in 1975, which are considered his first mature works in glass.

As well as curating and showing work at many exhibitions over the years, Clarke undertook many prestigious stained glass commissions in the UK and overseas. He collaborated with renowned architect Norman Foster on various projects, including a large stained glass window for the Al-Faisliah Center in Riyadh in 2000.

In 2012 Clarke was appointed Honorary Liveryman by the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Master Glass Painters.

Marking Clarke’s 70^th birthday was the exhibition ‘Brian Clarke: A Great Light’, held at Damien hirst’s Newport Street Gallery (9 June 2023-7 January 2024). The show featured a selection of his works made since 2002, including ‘Ardath’ (‘Blooming Meadow’), a 450-square-foot glass artwork made from three layers of glass and without lead cames (see image).

His final work was the monumental stained glass installation ‘Concordia’ at Bahrain International Airport, which he unveiled earlier this year.

Find out more about Brian Clarke and his art via the website.