Shall we Travel | RARE | Kjell Engman

Kjell Engman – Glass Artist and Creator of Whimsical Worlds

Kjell Engman, born in Stockholm, comes from a family of musicians and began his career as a professional rock guitarist. Music continues to shape his glass art, not only through his signature glass instruments but also in the rhythm, movement, and joie de vivre evident in his figures and installations. For his immersive works, Engman often composes original soundtracks, creating multi-sensory experiences with light, sound, and sometimes fragrance.

Engman studied at the University of Arts, Crafts & Design in Stockholm and the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, USA. He has been an active glass artist and designer at Kosta Boda since 1978 and now lives on Öland, commuting to his studio in Kosta. His popular summer installations, described as “glass performances,” are regularly staged at Ekerums Konsthall on Öland.

Known for bold colors, playful forms, and whimsical humor, Engman’s glass work features animals, nature, musical motifs, and symbols drawn from both daily life and the subconscious. His creations celebrate joy, confidence, and imagination, encouraging viewers to interpret his pieces freely and engage with his fantastical worlds. As Engman explains:

“I think of my installations as movies without dialogue – I’m the director and the glass figures are my actors. My art should make people smile; it should be something positive… I want everyone to create their own fantasy world.”

Travellers – A series by Kjell Engman Life is a Journey which we all participate in whether we want to or not. There is always something that steers us in different directions and I think it depends on our spiritual and mental core within our beings. A network of nerves that holds our senses in balance. Design by Kjell Engman Handmade in Kosta, Sweden Limited Edition 60

This is the last available in the edition.