Ann Wahlstrom

Swedish artist and designer Ann Wåhlström has a background both as a glassblower and a designer. She studied glassblowing at the Glass School in Orrefors and then went to the United States, where she came in contact with studio glass at Pilchuck Glass School. Later she attended the Konstfack School of Art and Design in Stockholm and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, United States. She was a designer for Kosta Boda 1986-2005.

Wåhlström’s work is as varied in material as it is color. Her strong aesthetic ties together her wide use of graphic lines and sweeping arcs whether applied to the flat surface of textiles or the fluid forms of glass. Her inspiration comes from nature, ancient architecture, and children’s book illustration. She cites Moomin creator Tove Jansson as a huge influence.

Wåhlström is based in Stockholm where she combines artistic work in glass with freelance design and has made several bodies of work in Seattle and Tacoma studios since 2003. The collaboration with the glass blowers to create the designs made on paper is the most fantastic and energetic meeting for Wåhlström. The current collection we have of her work was created during her Artist Residency at Museum of Glass-Tacoma.