GLASS STUDIO, BASED
IN BULGARIA SINCE 2018
About
Ardor Glass Studio
Ardor Glass is a studio devoted to handcrafted glasswork. From intricate stained glass pieces to artist commissions, props, and beyond, each piece is custom-made, guided by innovative approaches rooted in tradition.
Based in Sofia, Bulgaria, the studio blends craftsmanship with a deep sense of personal artistry — led by Nikola Grozdanov, a glass artist with numerous projects in architecture and the creative industry.
Nikola Grozdanov
With a career spanning 20 years and many international commissions under his belt, Nikola Grozdanov has crafted stained glass in private, public and sacred spaces, shaped sculptures and installations for artists, and built varied props for the film and advertising industry.
Each piece is guided by his signature precision, patience, and curiosity towards the work with glass.
Nikola has mastered his skills in leading glass institutions around the world and continuously works with renowned contemporary artists.
Artist statement
My artistic practice is driven by experimentation with non-traditional processes in working with glass. Using techniques such as screen printing, casting, fusing, drawing and engraving, my works investigate the potential of the material.
Transparency, fragility and hardness are inherent properties of glass. Their limitations inspire new approaches and form the conceptual foundations of my work, which in itself aims to push the boundaries of traditional glass craftsmanship.
Collaboration is a central approach in my artistic practice, the nature of which is tied to nuanced social issues. The expertise of professionals from different fields and the perspectives of representatives belonging to different social groups are key to shaping the critical concepts behind my works.
Highlights
Career
Berengo Studio 1989
External Collaborator in Glass Casting / Full-time
July 2017 - July 2020 / Murano, Veneto, Italy
National Academy of Art Sofia
Teaching Assistant / Part-time
Oct 2020 - Present / Sofia, Bulgaria
Education
PhD, Glass
National Academy of Arts Sofia
Nov 2019 - Nov 2022
Master’s Degree, Fine Arts
National Academy of Arts Sofia
2012 - 2014
Bachelor’s Degree, Fine Arts
National Academy of Arts Sofia
2008 - 2012
Personal project
I Know Why the Caged Birds Sings , Sofia, 2021
We design and produce custom stained glass works for both modern and traditional spaces — from sacred architecture and residential windows to restoration projects and artistic installations.
Each piece is handcrafted using time-honored techniques, combining light, color, and narrative to transform any environment.
Personal project
A Calm , Sofia, 2022
Protest posters against the threat of war in Iraq in 2003 raise questions regarding the silence of Western society in the middle of the growing tensions in Europe today.
Glass sheets resembling crumpled up pieces of paper carry some of their messages in an attempt to seek answers for the lack of mass unrest from NGOs and peace activists.
The material further reinforces the fragile state of the value behind what is written.