Nina Nørgaard is a globally recognized glassware artist and designer based in Denmark. After studying mouth blown and sculpted glass techniques with masters in Paris, Venice and San Francisco, she graduated from Sweden's Kosta School of Glass in 2010. When I first contacted Nina last summer to ask if Sommer could feature some of her work in our collection, she asked to meet over FaceTime to learn more about the shop. We spoke in Swedish and Norwegian while she sat outside, bathed in sunlight on her deck with occasional sweet interruptions from her children. Thoughtful and refreshingly unencumbered by our modern world's fast paced tendencies, Nina Nørgaard is a true artist who upholds an unwavering commitment to the integrity and quality of her work. I hope you enjoy getting to know Nina as much as I have. — Madeline, Shop Owner

Where are you from originally and where do you live now?

I grew up with a sea view in a bohemian neighborhood called Myrkjærhuse near Kalundborg, 1 hour from Copenhagen, Denmark. Two years ago my husband and I decided to buy an old farm house and build an untraditional vineyard on the property, with oyster and seaweed influences combined with a glass atelier and showroom. It is a very beautiful place located in a UNESCO protected area. The funny part is that during my childhood I never knew this area existed just 20 minutes from my home and that I one day would return to Odsherred.

How were you first introduced to the art of glassblowing and why were you drawn to it?

My aunt is a glass artist, so I was seeing her work at the age of 5 — I completely fell in love with the material, and she was so kind to teach me and let me into her universe. At that time she was working with glass artist Pernille Bülow in Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea.

You studied with masters in Paris, Venice and San Francisco before formalizing your training at Kosta School of Glass in Sweden. What are some attributes of what you learned in the Scandinavian tradition of glassblowing?

In Sweden the technique was very much about mold blowing for the first 2 years of my studies — to master making wine glasses and mold blowing. Also learning to cold work the glass with cutting the top of the stemware to polish it. Also decoration such as engraving and making cut patterns on the glasses were part of the education. In my aunt's studio in Jylland, the pieces were mostly made with cold work and without molds. Every glass had a soft edge — it was opened by hand in one flow and was ready the day after.

Over the years you have been commissioned by Cecilie Bahnsen, Noma and Reform, to name a few. Have collaborations such as these influenced your personal work as well?

The wonderful part about collaborations is that I can be myself in them, I guess they like my way of working with the material as much as I like to be challenged by their needs and dreams for the project. I have big respect for the people I have worked with and I love to fall in love with their universes and to understand the meaning behind our work together. Sometimes ideas are born that will later be part of my other projects for sure. I think and hope we all get inspired or influenced when we are working together on collabs.

Glassblowing is known to be a physically demanding art form. Can you share a bit about your creative process? How do you divide your time between sculpting and blowing versus the studio?

It really depends on the projects I'm working on, but before I go to the hot shop (workshop for molten glass) to either blow or sculpt glass, I have prepared the colors and formed ideas and tools. I know what I want to do. It is necessary for me that if I work with assistants they know what I am thinking about or what my goal is. If I’m alone in the studio I can spend time testing things out more slowly. Most of my time is spent in my home studio where I prepare projects and my recipes — size, design, form, colors, patterns, tools, etc. — and then I am more or less in the hot shop 1 day per week. I also have 1 city day in Copenhagen where I have meetings and go to the museum.

Are there ways in which sustainability plays a role in your work?

Yes always, I never throw out any pieces, colors, wrapping, or boxes. I reuse everything and I have always done that. The studios and factories I work with also reuse a lot of their glass in meltings — but I still wish for more.

Living in a world in which many of us are unfortunately disconnected from the process or knowledge of how something is made before it arrives to us, it is more important than ever to perpetuate the art of glassblowing. Is there anything you wish more people knew or understood about this craft?

How challenging it is, that it's not something you learn at a summer course. It takes time, many years, and patience to learn a craft. But it is a good thing, we should enjoy the time of practicing something new. In the old days the cost of glass was compared with gold. It is still precious in many ways, especially with limited resources of sand and, therefore, glass. Well made glassware costs money because there is so much knowledge and human power behind each final piece.

You recently moved to the countryside outside of Copenhagen. Has living in the countryside informed or changed your work at all?

Not yet, though I think I might be doing more pieces inspired by my home and way of living. I’m not that kind of person that after I became a mom I suddenly started making baby cups or plates ;) but to be living in nature and close to the sea is always very inspiring.

Is there a piece or object you have not yet made that you would like to attempt in the future?

There are many, I have books full of ideas... I hope I will have time to present some new pieces for 3 days of Design in Copenhagen this June.

Besides glass, what and who are the other loves of your life?

My family. I’m a big family person and I love to have them all together for dinners and working together on our vineyard. I also love cooking and baking, it makes me so happy. To walk in nature and to feel the weather and seasons change. I also love that we have a garden, to plan what flowers and trees to plant and to see it all growing. Going to the spa or the beach is also very joyful to me.

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