Alexander beleschenko biography

Alexander Beleschenko (born )

Prolific and internationally-acclaimed architectural glass artist. Alexander Beleschenko was born in Corby, Northamptonshire, and trained at Winchester School of Art (–72) and the Slade School of Fine Art (–5). A period of time in Florence encouraged him to understand art in architectural contexts, whch led him to study stained glass at Swansea School of Art briefly in –9. He worked in the studio of Wippell's in Exeter as a cartoonist around this time, before returning to Swansea and teaching on the Stained Glass course in Swansea into the mids.

He was based at Glasslight Studios before establishing his own studio in Swansea in , around the time that he made a window for Stockley Park, Outer London. He has been responsible for numerous commissions across the United Kingdom as well as Germany and the USA, including screens, wall panels, façades, balustrades, suspended works and sculptures in a wide variety of public and private buildings.

A detailed biography and list of commissions can be found on the artist's website.

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British artist working in glass

Alexander Beleschenko (born ) is a British artist working in glass who creates architectural glass installations.

Biography

Alexander Beleschenko was born in Corby, Northamptonshire to Ukrainian parents. He initially studied painting at Winchester School of Art and printmaking at the Slade School of Fine Art, London – After winning the John Brinkley Fellowship at Norwich School of Art and time spent living in Florence, he went on to study Architectural Stained Glass at Swansea School of Art, –

Alexander Beleschenko's works include the cone wall in Southwark tube station in London, the Heart of Wales in the Senedd Welsh Assembly Building in Cardiff, the façade portal doors for Herz Jesu Kirche in Munich and glazed facades for the Forum Building, University of Exeter.

Alexander Beleschenko has twice been awarded the Art and Architecture Award from the Royal Society of Arts. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, an Honorary Fellow of Swansea Metropolitan University, and an Honorary Doctor of the University of Exeter

He lives and works in Swansea.

Selected Projects

• Members' room, Chartered Accountants' Hall, London
• Swimming pool, spa area wall, Holland Green Spa, London
• Entrance screens, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
• Entrance screen, Torquay House, London
• Entrance reception area screens, Landmark Tower, Abu Dhabi
• Glazed facades, University of Exeter
• Entrance reception area wall, Baker Street, London
• Entrance level access to building, Glass Tower, Neuenbeken, Germany
• Glass façade, Kendrew Quad Café, St John's College, Oxford (link)
• Glass façade, Blackhall Road, St John

Alexander Beleschenko (born )

Andrew Moor, Contemporary Stained Glass: A Guide to the Potential of Modern Stained Glass in Architecture (London: Mitchell Beazley, ), pp. –9.

Alex Beleschenko, 'Glass Projects in Architecture'The Journal of Stained Glass, vol. xxxii (), –

Judith Neiswander and Caroline Swash, Stained and Art Glass, pp. –9.

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A conversation with Alexander Beleschenko

Alexander Beleschenko (, based in Wales, UK) creates architectural glass installations. His works can be seen in Britain, Germany, France, USA, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

Yes, I do consider myself a stained glass artist, even though I have only made a few stained glass windows in my year career. I have taken that job description really through the fact that my introduction to the art and craft of the medium was in a schooling of the traditional practice. There have been times that I have thought of using other definitions but they all end up being far more confusing, especially to the layman.

The other term associated with what I do is Public Art and that one I don’t really care for much. It is a strange one because I don’t see the end result of my artistic efforts as being specifically for the public. I see it as primarily being embedded into architecture. I want my art to be transformative and relevant to its architectural context. I came to working in glass after experiencing art in architecture when I lived in Florence, Italy for two years. I don’t ever remember anyone defining Michelangelo’s David in the Piazza della Signoria as public art!

Art in architecture demands a special mind set by which one sees that constraints are the strength of the work. I love the challenges of honing in on the conditions; I love the fact that there is a dialogue that engages client, architect and even maybe engineers. I am always appreciative that people offer something to the process and I have never been in a situation that these offerings have been prescriptive. Everybody tips their hat to me understanding that I am the artist and it is my work ultimately.

My practise is also totally embedded and responsive to the material of glass. To be as ensconced in this art glass world, as I have been, you have to live and breath