Petr Stanický – Echoes of Transparency

Guided by a deep sensitivity to space, light, and material, Petr Stanický creates sculptures that bridge the realms of architecture and glass. His artistic language is defined by an abstract approach, compositional confidence, and formal clarity yet also by a fragility inherent to the nature of glass. Although glass with its specific properties plays a key role in his art, he does not treat it as an end in itself but as a medium for expression, a means to explore the relationship between material, space, and human perception.

Educated in the Czech Republic and the United States, Czech glass sculptor Petr Stanický studied sculpture at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague in the studios of Kurt Gebauer and Marian Karel, specializing in glass in architecture.

He furthered his education at the College of Art in Edinburgh, the Rhode Island School of Design, and later at the New York Academy of Art where he deepened his study of the human figure. During his time in New York he worked on sculptural projects in Jeff Koons’ studio, gaining valuable experience that refined both his technical precision and conceptual depth.

Since 2008 Stanický has headed the Glass Design Studio at Tomas Bata University in Zlín where he emphasizes the unity between material, space, and human experience. His teaching encourages students to perceive glass not merely as a craft material but as a conceptual and architectural element capable of expressing the dialogue between nature and human creation.

Stanický’s art is rooted in an explicitly architectural conception. He views architecture as a symbol of civilization’s rise and decline, a projection of human logic and reason into a world governed by elemental chaos. In his works, architectural structures and geometric forms become metaphors for memory, transformation, and the continuity of existence. His installations often evoke a quiet sense of human presence suggesting that someone has just departed or is about to enter. This subtle tension turns his sculptures into meditations on existence and belonging.

Material exploration lies at the core of his practice. He frequently combines glass, wood, metal, and lead emphasizing their inherent physical and symbolic qualities. Rather than concealing the process of making, he highlights texture, density, and imperfection, giving each work an authentic human resonance. This honesty differentiates him from traditional Czech glass artists focused on surface perfection or optical brilliance. In Stanický’s hands, glass becomes both delicate and structural, a medium that captures fragility and strength, transparency and weight.

Light plays a vital role in his compositions. Through the interaction of illumination, reflection, and spatial layering, his glass sculptures transform according to their environment, creating evolving experiences that shift with time and perspective. The surrounding space becomes part of the artwork itself, reinforcing his vision of art as an open dialogue between structure, light, and perception.

Internationally recognized for his architectural sense of form and spatial awareness, Petr Stanický continues to expand the possibilities of contemporary glass art. His works are represented in major public and private collections including the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, Het GlazenHuis in Belgium, and Glasmuseet Ebeltoft in Denmark.

Through his distinctive synthesis of sculpture, architecture, and glass, Petr Stanický invites viewers to reflect on the relationship between human presence and space. His art transforms transparency into a language of contemplation, offering both visual clarity and a profound meditation on the fragile balance between civilization and nature.