Rafael Zarazua | Saatchi Art Germany

ABOUT

Glass Art of Rafael Zarazua
Born in Guatemala 1985
When I first encountered the technique of free-blown glass sculpture, which defines my current style, I was captivated purely by the craftsmanship and technical aspects. How far could I push the boundaries of glass to create the forms I envisioned? I sculpted animals and human figures. Gradually, my work began to take on deeper meanings.

The pieces I create most frequently are human busts, with a particular focus on their expressions. Glass is a fluid material, constantly melting and moving during the creation process. Within the brief window when the glass is softened by heat, I shape it by pushing and pulling with tools. The process is influenced not only by human effort but also by gravity, the force of the flame, and various incidental factors. Like human emotions, glass moves in a fluid and uncontrollable manner. It is this quality that allows me to capture the struggles and fleeting moments of human emotion within the material.

EDUCATION

2013-2016

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools Of Architecture, Design and Conservation Center, the department of Glass/ Bornholm, Denmark

2004-2009

Universidad Rafael Landivar Guatemala, the Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Design and Architecture/ Guatemala C.A, Guatemala

2016 The Glass Factory Boda / Sweden

2016 New Glass Review 38 - Corning Museum of Glass / USA

2015 First Place, Bornholm Juried Spring Exhibition 2015/ Denmark

2022 UniArt Gallery, New Bulgarian University/Bulgaria

2016 Boda Glass Factory / Sweden

2015 Svaneke Gaarden / Denmark

EXHIBITIONS

2015 Bornholm Juried Spring Exhibition 2015 Selected Grand Prize Winner
2016 Graduation Exhibition "Silica Visions" /Denmark
2016 European Glass Context 2016 Selected / Denmark
2016 Stanialav Lubensky Award 2016 Selected / Czech Republic
2017 Selected for the 55th Hyogo Crafts Exhibition
2017 Selected for the 6th Soba Choko Art Exhibition
2017 10th Collaborative Exhibition Onsa
2017 Selected for the 55th Hyogo Prefecture Exhibition
2018 Selected for the 54th Kanagawa Art Exhibition
2019 Selected for the 55th Kanagawa Art Exhibition
2019 Monster Exhibition2019 Selected
2020 SICF21/Spiral
2021 The 16th TAGBOAT AWARD Selected
2021 Group Exhibition LOVE IT WHILE YOU LIVE!/Shibuya Hikarie CUBE1,2,3
2021 Selected for the 56th Kanagawa Art Exhibition
2021 International Glass Biennale 2021 Selected / Bulgaria
2021 Group Exhibition STAND!/Shibuya Hikarie CUBE1,2,3
2022 KAIKA TOKYO AWARD 2022 Selected
2022 Solo exhibition “Te Llevo Dentro” / Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore
2023 ALL OF GLASS 2023 / Maruzen Nihonbashi store
2023 Solo exhibition "LOVE AND FEAR"/ JOINT GALLERY HARAJUKU
2023 Rafael Zarazua × Eri Kawakami / Gallery10[TOH]
2024 Rafael Zarazua × SAKURAOKA/ MAT