« Blazing Grace »

Until 21 September 2025, the Institut suédois is inviting designers who are reinventing glass craftsmanship in the Kingdom of Sweden to take part in “Blazing Grace”. The exhibition has been conceived to mark the 100th anniversary of the Arts and Crafts movement, as well as Swedish Grace. Five renowned contemporary artisans are featured in the programme, waiting to be discovered.

No, Swedish design is not just about wooden furniture. Known for its contemporary 20th-century design, Sweden has a long history of glass production. It took shape in the middle of the 17th century and developed in Småland, in the south- east of the country. in the south-east of the country, where abundant forests provided fuel for the furnaces before the arrival of gas and electricity. Quickly christened Glasriket, or “the kingdom of crystal”, the region is home to many glassworks, such as Kosta, established in 1742 and still in operation today. This unique craft production accompanied the advent of Swedish Grace, a movement led by the Svensk Slöjdförening, or “Swedish Handicraft Association”, which launched the concept of vackrare vardagsvara, or “beautiful everyday objects”.

This concept gained international renown at the 1925 World’s Fair in Paris, where Swedish glass from Orrefors attracted considerable attention, and again at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. Perceived as healthy, light, simple, bright and welcoming, Swedish Grace embodies the Swedish aesthetic, which became Scandinavian Design in the 1950s. However, the end of the 20th century and its turbulence significantly changed glass production, which relocated its production, leading to the closure of glassworks in the 2010s. A new ecosystem then emerged, via small independent workshops, adapted to artistic production and small series, far from industrial productivity expectations. New craft techniques also emerged.

In short, a whole new paradigm through which new talents emerged, such as the five artists presented in the exhibition « Blazing Grace », set to music by artist Markus Emilsson. Fredrik Nielsen, head of The Garage Stockholm, one of the independent workshops that contributed to the revival of Swedish glass, will present his punk creations, which are both chaotic and monumental. Maria Bang Espersen, meanwhile, has devised a method of folding and stretching glass that is reminiscent of the process used to make candy cane. After numerous manipulations, the glass becomes opaque and takes on a metallic sheen. This taste for experimentation can also be found in Kirsten Vikingstad Hermansson’s colour-saturated creations and Hanna Hansdotter’s exuberant sculptures. Finally, Swedish artist Peter Hermansson, who made a name for himself with his highly personal reinterpretation of the Graal technique, will present several pieces that complete this overview of contemporary Swedish glass design. •

— “Blazing Grace”, from 3 September 2025 to 21 September 2025, at the Institut suédois, Paris

photos : Lotus Print-Marble Mesh, Hanna Hansdotter, mold blown mirrored glass sculpture, 2024 © Queen of Kingdom Of Crystal • Wine Goblets, Fredrik Nielsen, blown glass, 2023 © Mikael Niemi • Telephone, Fredrik Nielsen, blown glass sculpture, 2022 © Mikael Niemi