I define my work very clearly as an architectural art and draw a clear distinction between this and gallery art. The primary difference between the two is that gallery art is created by an artist as a personal expression to be viewed as a singular object which is sold to an owner who may re-sell the work at a later date. An architectural art is created singularly for a client and is located within an architectural setting with no intentions of it being re-located in the future.

I consider myself singularly as an architectural artist and create works for specific locations in architecture. As such the works are designed to be harmoniously integrated with the building to address specific objectives established by the architecture. The design process begins with an evaluation of what role the art work is to fulfill in the architecture with the intent of answering the question, ‘what is it to do for the architecture’, which initiates the direction and development of the design.

Following this question are a series of questions of how is it related to the architecture? Is it intended to be part and parcel of the architecture, integrated into the building, fulfilling architecture’s intentions? Or is it to be an independent art juxtaposed to the architecture, which is whole and complete without the art? Or, is the architecture to also also be the art, where there is no distinction between what is art and what is architecture, as a synthesis of the two? Of these three primary modalities, the majority of my work is integrated as harmoniously as possible with the architecture.

An integrated art not only stylistically complements the architecture, but also addresses how the art is viewed, by whom, for how long, how often, etc.. I am especially concerned with how the work is to engage a viewer, visually and mentally. There are instances in a building where the art is intended to be visually very prominent and in other instances where it is to be subdued and quiet. The determination for which is most appropriate is determined by how the art is intended to work within the architecture, returning to the earliest question, ‘what is it to do for the architecture’.

Because each building is different in its objectives, location, appearance, materials, light, and most importantly clients, the resulting art work will be different because of its design response to these influences. As a result of this approach the body of my work is very diverse in application, composition, materials and techniques. I do not believe in developing a ‘personal’ style that is employed for each project in different iterations. But, I have developed techniques & materials that are used on many different projects because of their natural characteristics, such as light transformation, optical effects, color transmission and reflectivity, textural quality, light diffusion, opacity, transparency/obscurity, etc.

Concerning the process of executing projects, I encourage and promote a collaborative process with the project team which is composed of the client, architect/designer, builder, and consultants. Collaboration begins prior to the development of a design with a thorough analysis of the project, the most important part of which is the consultation with the client and the designer of the building, who become vital partners in the development of the design. As the project evolves the team expands to include others involved in the production of the building who become important members with whom I work closely, keeping them closely informed on the development of my work and coordinating it with the building construction. Most importantly, I consider the execution of a project to be as much a part of the creative process as the design by the care, diligence and attention with which it is given. From this process I have come to recognize that the other members of the team experience the collaboration process with a sense of joy by contributing to the creative process of making art.

My study and practice of architecture have greatly shaped my work as an architectural glass artist in a great many ways, particularly in how I organize my work and and how I work with others. From my background as an artist and an architect I understand the construction process of buildings and organize my work to cohesively fit within the construction process. My work has expanded with the influence of architecture which has shaped and expanded my design solutions, materials, techniques, compositions and expanded my understanding of the variety of ways in which expressive glass can contribute to architecture by making it more memorable and meaningful to those who experience it.

Kenneth von Roenn
Austin, TX