Marian Volráb – Sculpting the Soul in Glass

Marian Volráb was born into a glassmaking family and pursued his education in glass engraving at the High School of Applied Arts for Glassmaking in Kamenický Šenov, before continuing at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague under the mentorship of renowned artists Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslav Svoboda. His connection to the glass world deepened further when he worked as an assistant to Vladimír Kopecký after graduating​. Volráb’s artistic process is rooted in manipulating glass through engraving, etching, and molding. He often employs rough carborundum discs to engrave and carve the surface, controlling the pressure to achieve varying levels of depth and texture. This approach gives his sculptures a distinct rawness, contrasting with the typical polished aesthetics of glass art. His works, which avoid smooth finishes, highlight the rugged and tactile qualities of the material. These characteristics often embody a deeper emotional resonance, evoking feelings of solitude and inner turmoil​.

Volráb’s sculptures focus heavily on the human experience, particularly the complexities of emotion and the passage of time. His works frequently portray isolated, featureless figures, where themes of introspection and entrapment dominate. Volráb captures a sense of inner conflict and a human being’s attempt to grapple with internal and external worlds.

Volráb’s work is represented in museums and collections worldwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the National Gallery in Prague. As a member of the Rubicon art group, he is recognized among a distinctive group of Czech glass artists whose original styles push the boundaries of traditional glass art. His ongoing contributions to both glass sculpture and painting ensure his legacy as a central figure in contemporary Czech art.