Michaela Swade

Glass engraver

Dedicated to full immersion

Michaela is a glass engraver who only works on one object at a time
Intuition and emotion guide her creative process
Her atelier combines creation, exhibition and education

Michaela Swade found herself practising glass engraving when she was initially looking for a path into calligraphy. Her glass engraving training at the glass school Zwiesel in Lower Bavaria offered only minimal focus on lettering, but it introduced her to a material that immediately felt right to her. Michaela trained for nearly a decade, becoming skilled in engraving, design, and glass refinement. Today, she creates each work as a standalone exploration, one piece at a time. "I am guided by an inner theme. I move slowly through the sculptural processes of cutting deeply, breaking where needed and allowing the glass to reveal new meaning," Michaela says. In 2014, she opened her studio which became not only a site of personal creation, but also one of shared discovery, where others are welcomed into her world through workshops and exhibitions.

Interview

Why do you work on one piece at a time?: Every piece has its own rhythm, and I need to respect that. If I worked on several at once, it would disrupt the process. Each piece is a way for me to find greater clarity, so I work with one only until it is fully realised.
What is something about glass engraving that might surprise people?: Glass engraving requires me to be extremely close to the piece, inspecting every detail. Since water and particles can additionally cloud my vision, it is a good idea to pause and step back occasionally.
Is your profession considered endangered?: Yes, in fact, glass design has been declared an endangered cultural heritage by UNESCO. In Germany, the community of practising glass artists is quite small and closely connected. I am a member of two associations, the regional Glass Artists’ Association and the international Glass Engraving Network. Both organisations are committed to keeping the craft visible through exhibitions and collaborative projects.
Do you have any advice to those interested in working with glass?: I would highly recommend starting at a glass school. In Germany, we are fortunate to have institutions that offer comprehensive training for glass crafts. The way students are introduced to the many facets of glass design, with access to traditional European knowledge and skills, is truly unique. How each individual chooses to apply that knowledge is, of course, up to them.

Michaela Swade is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1995 and she started teaching in 2021