Pròsper Riba Vilardell

The Glass Apprentice

Glassblower

©María Huerga

Transparency and colours to talk about what is possible

Pròsper thrives on exploration and defying outcomes
Colour and form set the mood in his work
He was born to a family of artists spanning various generations

Pròsper Riba Vilardell has a fearless approach to creativity which infuses a sense of possibility in all his work. He recalls his curious interest in the inner workings of things as a youngster by disassembling objects and reassembling them in new ways. Pròsper chose to study Industrial Modelling at Barcelona’s Escola Massana. Upon graduating in 2016, he continued glass blowing studies abroad at the Glasfachschule Zwiesel and Bild-Werk in Germany. His fascination for glass led him to master workshops across Europe, including in Czechia's glass kingdom, and to an internship in the USA, where he delved deeper into glass-blowing techniques. "Back in Spain, I realised my learning was far from over and that it would continue with every new challenge I face," says Pròsper. He opened up his studio, The Glass Apprentice, in 2020, a name that suits his jovial spirit and limitless sense of wonder.

Interview

©María Huerga

©María Huerga

What did you find fascinating about glass when you first encountered it?: When I was making a glass lamp for my final project at Escuela Massana, I discovered that Spain did not offer much expertise in glass making. If I wanted to master the material and explore techniques, I would have to look for that abroad. I was captivated by the playful reflections of light and optics and the fresh perspective glass gives to any setting.
What do you enjoy about your craft?: I admire its fluidity. In a constant dialogue with glass, I can dictate its ways or I can let it flow and guide me. Glass is alive and it can still transform without losing its properties. I can also express my moods and feelings through my work with colour.
How do you involve colour in your work?: I love working with gradient colours and transparency. I learned this exact and purist technique in my Bohemian apprenticeships. Quixote and Phoenix vases represent that period and capture serene moods. My Dancer series, on the other hand, are solid coloured and a playful example of working with fluid states.
How do exploration and innovation appear in your work?: Driven by the belief that everything is possible, I usually say “yes” when everyone says “no.” This has opened opportunities for collaborative projects to create glass from recycled mussel shells and pizza oven leftover ashes with Studio Peipei, or from silica-producing micro algae with Orsa Design Lab. Prototyping is the path to discovering what is possible.

Pròsper Riba Vilardell is a rising star: he began his career in 2017 and he started teaching in 2022