Francisca Snel
Contemporary artist working with glass, copper and material research
Francisca Snel is a Dutch contemporary artist creating sculptural works in glass and copper. Combining traditional glassblowing techniques with material research, she transforms familiar, everyday objects into unexpected sculptures that explore labour, value, and the way we perceive our surroundings.
More About Francisca Snel
Francisca Snel is a Dutch artist based in Wommels. Her practice explores the constantly changing relationship between people and their environment, often beginning with materials and objects that are so familiar that we barely notice them.
Material research plays a central role in her work. Rather than treating glass simply as a medium, Snel investigates its physical properties, technical limitations, colour, transparency, and relationship with other materials. Her sculptures combine this experimental approach with the precision and knowledge of traditional craftsmanship.
Glassblowing is an important part of her current practice. Her glass works are made in Leerdam, a city with a long history of glassmaking in the Netherlands. The process is inherently collaborative: working with molten glass requires specialist knowledge, physical strength, precise timing, and close cooperation during the making of each individual work.
By Francisca Snel
29 × 16,5 cm
Glass, copper
Unique
Francisca Snel explores the contrast between darkness and transparency in Crystal Clear #19. Deep red, near-black and subtle turquoise tones surround a delicate copper mesh, inspired by an everyday cleaning sponge. The fine copper structure appears suspended within the blown glass, creating a striking contrast between the solid, substantial form and the intricate material inside.
Viewed from different angles or in changing daylight, the sculpture reveals unexpected colours and layers. Its dark palette gives the work a distinctive presence, while the transparency of the glass allows light to reveal details beneath the surface.
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