Bertil Vallien's 'Starman' Survey at Robert Lehman Gallery
At 88, Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien presents 'Starman: Sixty Years of Exploring Glass Art' at Robert Lehman Gallery at UrbanGlass in Brooklyn, New York. The exhibition runs from April 3 to June 7, 2026, featuring 35 works spanning his 64-year career. Vallien, known as the 'father of a lost technique,' revived glass sand-casting and popularized black glass. The show includes his 'Resting Head' series, 'Azur' sculptures, 'Idun's Magical Apples' series, and 'Ships' series, reflecting his interest in myth and storytelling. Vallien began working at Åfors Glassworks in 1963 and has a long partnership with Kosta Boda, a Swedish heritage brand with nearly 300 years of history. Consultant Douglas Heller notes Vallien's unique freedom to move between industrial design and studio art. The exhibition is accompanied by installation photos by Hanna Grankvist.
Key facts
- Bertil Vallien is 88 years old.
- Exhibition titled 'Starman: Sixty Years of Exploring Glass Art'.
- Venue: Robert Lehman Gallery at UrbanGlass, 647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY.
- Dates: April 3 to June 7, 2026.
- 35 works on display.
- Vallien is known as 'father of a lost technique' for glass sand-casting.
- He popularized black glass.
- Vallien started at Åfors Glassworks in 1963.
- Kosta Boda has a history of nearly 300 years.
- Douglas Heller is a consultant for the exhibition.
- Hanna Grankvist took installation photos.
- Series include 'Resting Head', 'Azur', 'Idun's Magical Apples', and 'Ships'.
Entities
Artists
- Bertil Vallien
Institutions
- Robert Lehman Gallery
- UrbanGlass
- Kosta Boda
- Åfors Glassworks
Locations
- Brooklyn
- New York
- United States
- Sweden