Michael Behrens,
Germany
Michael Behrens is a German glass artist and sculptor whose practice explores the energy, movement and structural complexity of the natural world. Working primarily with kiln-cast glass, he creates sculptural forms that balance substantial physical presence with intricate internal structures, transparency and carefully articulated surfaces.
Curatorial Profile
Michael Behrens approaches glass as a sculptural medium through which the forces and structures of nature can be translated into tangible form. His work explores the relationship between movement and stillness, interior and exterior, weight and visual fluidity. Through dynamic shapes, organic contours and intricate internal structures, he creates sculptures that appear to capture natural processes in a suspended state.
His Underwater and Seaforms series draw on personal experiences above and beneath the water’s surface. Organic silhouettes enclose intricate internal structures, while the interplay of matte and transparent surfaces reveals shifting relationships between depth, light and form. In contrast, the opaque sculptures of the Phoenix series focus on the expressive qualities of contour and texture, allowing the material’s physical presence to take precedence over colour. His Landscapes wall panels translate natural formations into abstract, multilayered compositions, while Evolution examines continuity and transience through the dialogue between inner and outer structures.
More recently, Behrens has extended his practice into large-scale photography. These photographic works explore expansive landscapes and subtle colour transitions, creating images whose painterly qualities invite prolonged observation and personal interpretation.
Born in Düsseldorf in 1973, Behrens studied at the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2003. After initially working with photography and painting, he turned towards abstract sculpture and established his own studio in Düsseldorf in 2006. His work has since been presented in more than 300 solo and group exhibitions internationally.
A defining aspect of Behrens’ practice is his technical command of kiln-cast glass. Working with custom furnaces and specialised equipment in his Düsseldorf studio, he oversees a demanding production process involving model and mould making, glass casting, controlled annealing and extensive grinding and surface finishing. Supported by a team of skilled assistants and specialist Czech glass grinders, he produces large-scale works that combine technical precision with an experimental approach to material and form.
House of Glass Gallery
Artist Statement
My work is driven by a desire to make the energy of nature visible and tangible. I am interested in the forces that shape the natural world and in translating their movement, complexity and balance into sculptural form.
Glass allows me to explore the relationship between interior and exterior structures, transparency and opacity, movement and stillness. Through organic forms, intricate internal compositions and contrasting surface treatments, I seek to capture the impression of natural processes suspended in time.
Each sculpture develops through an intensive technical process that requires careful planning, precision and a deep understanding of the material. Working with kiln-cast glass allows me to create substantial, complex forms while exploring the expressive possibilities of their surfaces and internal structures.
Across my different series, I return to themes of transformation, continuity and transience. Whether working with sculptural glass or photography, my intention is to create works that invite viewers to look beyond the immediate surface and discover their own connections with the natural world.
Michael Behrens
Selected Works
Seaforms 406-23
Kiln-cast optical glass, pâte de verre overlay, ground, sandblasted, polished
81 × 38 × 14 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Seaforms 444
Kiln-cast glass blocks combined with hand-rolled glass sheets, ground, sandblasted, acid-polished
45 × 27 × 12 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Seaforms 396-23
Kiln-cast glass blocks combined with hand-rolled glass sheets, ground, sandblasted, acid-polished
61 × 28 × 13 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Phoenix 03-19
Kiln-cast black crystal, ground and polished, 24k gold-plated
46 × 26 × 12 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Evolution 13-26
Kiln-cast glass blocks combined with hand-rolled glass sheets, ground, sandblasted, acid-polished
42 × 22 × 11 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Seaforms 429-24
Kiln-cast optical glass, pâte de verre overlay, ground, sandblasted, polished
47 × 29 × 11 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Seaforms 448-25
Kiln-cast glass blocks combined with hand-rolled glass sheets, ground, sandblasted, acid-polished
51 × 30 × 12 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Phoenix 02-19
Kiln-cast black crystal, ground and polished, 24k gold-plated
43 × 30 × 9 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Evolution 07-26
Kiln-cast optical glass, pâte de verre overlay, ground, sandblasted, polished
40 × 40 × 15 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Seaforms 449-25
Kiln-cast glass blocks combined with hand-rolled glass sheets, ground, sandblasted, acid-polished
54 × 39 × 13 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Phoenix 01-19
Kiln-cast black crystal, ground and polished, 24k gold-plated
51 × 25 × 12 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl
Evolution 17-26
Kiln-cast glass blocks combined with hand-rolled glass sheets, ground, sandblasted, acid-polished
30 × 24 × 9 cm
Photography: Norbert Heyl