The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner

Gabriele Küstner, one of the best european master artisans dedicated to glass sculpture, works with fused glass mosaics, a process used by the ancient Romans around 300 B.C. Her teacher at the Staatliche Glasfachschule Hadamar, Josef Welzel, introduced her to the process.

The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner glass sculpture The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner Gold Vessel by Gabriele K stner Corning Museum of Glass

“Gold Vessel” ©Corning Museum of Glass

Following three years of studies as a glass grinder, Gabriele spent one year in Tennessee, at the Appalachian Center for Crafts. There, she had access to glass blowing facilities and started to work on her own technique of pulling glass cane.

The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner glass sculpture The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner 6 Wallpanels by Gabriele K stner Photo Credit Maxwell

“Wallpanels” ©Maxwell

Upon returning to Germany in the mid-80s, Gabriele opened her own glass sculpture studio. She took a fusing class a few years later that introduced her to the possibilities of using china paint to color glass rods from the outside. She worked on perfecting this process over the years aiming to render the fusing process visible. Her designs are inspired by the honeycomb pattern found in nature.

The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner glass sculpture The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner Mosaic Plate by Gabriele K stner Corning Museum of Glass 2

“Mosaic Plate” ©Corning Museum of Glass

To create the glass sculptures, painted glass canes of different diameters are cut into segments. They are then fused together and the surface is treated with diamond and stone wheels.

The Best of Glass Art: Gabriele Küstner glass sculpture The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner Wallpanel Black by Gabriele K stner Photo Credit Maxwell

“Wallpanel Black” ©Maxwell

The Best of Glass Art: Gabriele Küstner glass sculpture The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner Wallpanel White by Gabriele K stner Photo Credit Maxwell

“Wallpanel White” ©Maxwell

Since her childhood, glass and color always captured Gabriele Küstner’s interest. Working with her hands and creating something innovative were her main interests when growing up. A few years after Gabriele finished her education, her aunt told her that her ancestors (from her mother’s side) were glassblowers on the island of Murano. They migrated later to the Baltic and took on different professions. Gabriele is the first in that line to work again with glass and typically in a very Italian style.

The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner glass sculpture The Best of Glass Sculpture and Fusing Art: Gabriele Küstner Lidded Vessel by Gabriele K stner Corning Museum of Glass

“Lidded Vessel” ©Corning Museum of Glass

Gabriele’s Mosaic Plate is a glass plate that was made by fusing different diameter glass rods together, creating a honeycomb design on the surface of the plate. The Lidded Vessel is a fused glass vase that resembles the surface of a honeycomb and honey.