Kirsten Vikingstad Hermansson (born in 1988) is a Norwegian glass artist who lives in Jämshög, Sweden. Her sculptural glass works have a powerful presence and are characterised by their bold colour combinations. The process often starts with a kiln casting, where different opaque colours are fused into a solid form. Once cooled and removed from the mould, the piece is reworked by sawing, polishing and grinding, before being reheated and hot-assembled on a glassmaking bench. Using this technique, Kirsten Vikingstad Hermansson creates dynamic abstract sculptures that reinterpret classic glassmaking techniques. Her works are inspired by reflections on the concepts of power and ownership, often symbolised by architectural elements such as the tower or the ring. For a long time, cut crystal, particularly that produced by the Orrefors glassworks, was a jewel in the crown of Swedish glass work. Sparkling and crystal clear, these items were iconic export products that contributed to the country’s renown for glassware. Kirsten Vikingstad Hermansson reflects this tradition but with a contemporary brutality: her works are rugged, opaque, bold and lacking the brilliance traditionally associated with crystal.
Kirsten studied at the National School of Glass in Orrefors, the Royal Danish Academy of Design in Bornholm, as well as at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, under the direction of Rony Plesl. For eight years, she codirected the Formbar studio in Haugesund (Norway) with two glassmaking colleagues. She now devotes herself full time to her artistic career, which also includes site-specific installations for public spaces. She has exhibited in Scandinavia, the UK, Germany and Canada, and her works have been acquired by national institutions such as KODE in Bergen and the Nationalmuseet in Oslo.