Ulrica Hydman-Vallien was a Swedish glass artist and painter, renowned for her expressive and colourful glassware that often featured bold, narrative designs. Her work is celebrated for its vibrant and often whimsical aesthetics, which have made a significant impact in the world of glass art.
Goblet glas, clubbed on Stockholms Auktionsverk Malmö for 106 GBP.
Early Life and Education
Hydman-Vallien began studying art in 1958 at Konstfack in Stockholm where Stig Lindberg was one of her teachers. At Konstfack she also met her husband, Bertil Vallien, whom she married in 1963.
Her studies took her travelling around Europe, visiting the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain among other countries. Together with her husband, Hydman.Vallien also travelled to Mexico and USA before they both decided to settle down in Åfors because her husband was offered a job at Åfors glasbruk.
Innovative Designs in Glass Art
Hydman Valliens career as an artist started in 1972 when she began working at Kosta Boda, one of Sweden's most prestigious glass manufacturers. In 1986 she had her first big breakthrough with the series “Open Minds”, a series of glasses with a hand painted motif of stylized faces, a recurring motif in her designs. Her designs often featured bold, expressive lines and vivid colours with recurring motifs, these motifs became her signature style, making her works easy to recognize.
Vase from the series "Open Minds".
Hydman-Vallien's distinctive style is characterised by vivid imagery, including snakes, faces, and hearts, painted or etched onto glass. Her work typically involves a high degree of personal expression, which is somewhat unusual in the traditionally precise and controlled discipline of glassmaking. This unique approach allowed her to bring a strong, painterly quality to her glass pieces, making each work a standalone piece of art. Her most famous series, ""Tulipa,"" features bold, colourful tulip designs that are instantly recognizable and widely admired.
A Pioneering Spirit in Swedish Art and Design
Throughout her career, Hydman-Vallien worked primarily with Kosta Boda, where she was able to experiment with the limits of glass as an artistic medium. Her innovations not only expanded the possibilities within the field of glass art but also helped to redefine what could be achieved in terms of both technique and aesthetic appeal.
Hydman-Vallien’s contributions to the world of art and design were not limited to her glasswork; she also engaged in painting, which complemented her glass designs and showcased her versatility as an artist. Her work remains influential and celebrated in exhibitions around the world, cementing her legacy as a leading figure in contemporary glass art.