2025 — Vitrum Iceland
Vitrum Iceland is a series of glass works, commissioned by H,A,K,K Gallery, and born from Iceland’s overlooked material flows. Each piece is shaped from locally sourced cullet — fragments of pre-consumer and industrial glass — re-melted and formed with the precision of artisanal skill and the unpredictability of molten matter.
In collaboration with glassblower Anders Vange, from Reykjavík Glass, and Hildiberg Lighting studio, designer Johanna Seelemann has developed forms in which atmospheric inclusions — delicate air pockets, subtle irregularities, and shifting textures — and what might traditionally be considered imperfections — are revealed as distinctive traits of each piece. The glass is paired with fire-treated wood, a surface recalling the burnt tools traditionally used in glassblowing to shape and transport the glowing material.
The work draws from Iceland’s unique context, where most glass is currently downcycled or buried, its potential untapped. In this setting, Vitrum Iceland proposes a reproducible process for creating singular objects. Each piece, whether a vase or a shelf, retains the chemical purity of glass, preserving its future recyclability, even as it becomes an enduring collectible.
Transparency shifts to opacity; smooth planes dissolve into textured constellations of air and light. Variations are inherent, guided by the collaboration between material and maker. This dialogue — between resource and restraint, between chance and intention — defines the character of every edition.
The designs were developed in close collaboration with Reykjavík Glass, and were adapted to suit the workflow of a single glassblower and the studio’s production capabilities.
The abundance of discarded glass allows for its generous use and the production of larger, heavier glass objects. Using Iceland’s hydro and geothermal energy to power an electric furnace enables sustainable, local glass production.
Produced with H,A,K,K Gallery and supported by the Iceland Design and Architecture Fund, Handverk og Hönnun and Íspan Glerborg, Vitrum is both a gesture of preservation and a celebration of transformation. Numbered and unique, the works are available through the gallery.
In collaboration with glassblower Anders Vange, from Reykjavík Glass, and Hildiberg Lighting studio, designer Johanna Seelemann has developed forms in which atmospheric inclusions — delicate air pockets, subtle irregularities, and shifting textures — and what might traditionally be considered imperfections — are revealed as distinctive traits of each piece. The glass is paired with fire-treated wood, a surface recalling the burnt tools traditionally used in glassblowing to shape and transport the glowing material.
The work draws from Iceland’s unique context, where most glass is currently downcycled or buried, its potential untapped. In this setting, Vitrum Iceland proposes a reproducible process for creating singular objects. Each piece, whether a vase or a shelf, retains the chemical purity of glass, preserving its future recyclability, even as it becomes an enduring collectible.
Transparency shifts to opacity; smooth planes dissolve into textured constellations of air and light. Variations are inherent, guided by the collaboration between material and maker. This dialogue — between resource and restraint, between chance and intention — defines the character of every edition.
The designs were developed in close collaboration with Reykjavík Glass, and were adapted to suit the workflow of a single glassblower and the studio’s production capabilities.
The abundance of discarded glass allows for its generous use and the production of larger, heavier glass objects. Using Iceland’s hydro and geothermal energy to power an electric furnace enables sustainable, local glass production.
Produced with H,A,K,K Gallery and supported by the Iceland Design and Architecture Fund, Handverk og Hönnun and Íspan Glerborg, Vitrum is both a gesture of preservation and a celebration of transformation. Numbered and unique, the works are available through the gallery.
Concept And DesignJohanna Seelemann
Production
Reykjavík Glass
Lighting collaboration
Curated by
H,A,K,K Gallery
Videography
Assistance
Lion Sanguinette
Supported byÍspan Glerborg
Available At H,a,k,k gallery ︎︎︎
Johanna Seelemann
Production
Reykjavík Glass
Fjöl works
Lighting collaboration
Hildiberg Lighting Studio
Curated by
H,A,K,K Gallery
Brynhildur
Pálsdóttir
Gunnar M Pétursson
Videography
Marino Thorlacius
Assistance
Lion Sanguinette
Laura Laipple
Malin Melzer
Supported by
Íspan Glerborg
Handverk og Hönnun
Iceland Design and Architecture Fund
Available At H,a,k,k gallery ︎︎︎
