VERA SADAKOVA

ARTIST BIO

Vera Sadakova is a versatile glass artist, was born in Kirov, Russia. Vera started working with glass as main medium in 2009. She is the author of art objects created using different methods of glass processing: fusing, slumping, flameworking, glassblowing, glass casting. One of the areas of research is creation of new textures and patterns in glass volume.

Vera Sadakova got a profession of process engineer in specialty "Technology of Artistic Processing of Materials" from Vyatka State University, Russia in 2010. After graduation she had taught glass art technology for 7 years there. She was awarded Fulbright Fellowship for the Fall 2017 semester at San Jose State University (California, USA). Here she became acquainted with such techniques as glass blowing and casting with Cassandra Straubing.

In 2018, she moved to St. Petersburg, where she lives and works up to this day. Later, in 2020, Vera earned a master’s degree in Art Glass from The Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, Russia.
For the last eight years, she has worked at private manufacturing companies, which produce lighting pieces, glassware, stained-glass windows and decor items. Thanks to that Vera gained experience in glass manufacturing.

She regularly takes part in national and international exhibitions and glass conferences during last 15 years.
In 2019, she held a solo exhibition featuring the project "Guides," which explored the challenges of migrants' self-determination in new living conditions. The project was then presented at the International exhibition "The United," held in 2020 at the Pittsburgh Glass Center (Pennsylvania, USA).

Her works are held in the permanent exhibition of the International Biennale of Glass, Tryavna (Bulgaria), in the collections of the Pittsburgh Glass Center, in the collection of sculpture department of the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg (Russia), as well as in private collections in Russia.


ARTIST STATEMENT

My creativity is born at the intersection of color and form. As an artist and glass technologist, I see my mission as a mediator between two worlds: the ancient craft of working with hot glass and the fast-paced, analytical language of modern technologies.

I explore glass as metaphor – simultaneously fragile and strong, transparent yet capable of refracting light into millions of facets. I enjoy working with patterns, ornaments. For me, the beauty of ornamentation is more than mere decoration – it's a visual language that can convey complex meanings. The repetition of motifs, rhythm – all these elements create a unique image. Through handcrafted ornaments transferred onto volume, I express my perception of the world and strive for dialogue between author and viewer.

Through art, I reflect on social issues: the rupture of family ties, loss of genuine communication, extreme individualism, and even alienation among people exacerbated by global upheavals. Today, each person lives in their own unique world. I believe that art has the power to bring these worlds together, creating a shared future that will neither be uniform nor fragmented, but beautiful in its complex and indivisible integrity.

I love experimenting with glass in the kiln: anticipating its behavior under high temperatures, exploring the interconnections between processing modes and outcomes. Each time I open the kiln, my heart skips a beat: What's inside? How did it go? Not everything turns out exactly as planned, and that's precisely why I love this material. It leads me to something new if I'm willing to stay open and flow with the process without excessive expectations. My objects are invitations to pause and contemplate – a bridge between inner and outer. I believe that art rooted in craftsmanship and open to technology can become a space for profound mutual understanding.