Joseph Krumpelmann

Artist Statement

My name is Joseph Krumpelmann and I am the owner of Krumpelmann Studios LLC, an art and architecture firm based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I have been making stained glass art for about 30 years. Having recently been given an opportunity to commit more time to my art, I have been pushing myself to advance my style and explore new techniques.

I have always been drawn to the textures and patterns on old glass objects, plates, and goblets. The textures and patterns reflect and refract the light in ways that most glass purchased at a stained glass store can't. I cut the objects up using a wet saw and flatten them in a kiln so they can be incorporated into two-dimensional panels. Recently, I have been adding subtle layers of glass painting, using masking and stenciling, to add richness, complexity and texture to my works.

I have always thought of stained glass panels as being living paintings. They change and shift according to the movement of the sun throughout the day, and throughout the seasons. I love how, from moment to moment, they are never the same. When my stained glass pieces are brightly illuminated by the sun, and are glowing such that they almost dissolve into nothing but color, I like to think of them as abstract, transfigurative representations of our souls.