About
Maria Sparre-Petersen is an artist, researcher, lecturer and teacher. As a graduate from Rhode Island School of Design in 2000 Sparre-Petersen initially set up her business in New York City, while her Danish roots eventually led her back to Copenhagen where she completed her PhD. about glass and sustainability in 2017.
In recent years Sparre-Petersen’s work includes installations, sculptural objects and interactive projects in public spaces. She incorporates collaborative processes and pays close attention to the sociocultural circumstances of the different contexts she becomes involved with. Conceptually the work deals with issues of sustainability while embracing aspects of failure and imperfection. In her site specific installations Sparre-Petersen addresses spatial atmospheres with a particular sensitivity to existing conditions and users’ perspectives. She has carried out extensive experimentation with recycled glass involving old as well as new technology such as blowing, pressing and casting, robottics and 3D-printing. The technical aspects of working in recycled glass along with the unpredictability of working collaboratively and usercentered provides obstacles and insights that she employs toward the continuing development of the conceptual content of the work.
Sparre-Petersen is the recipient of numerous grants and honourable mentions and she has exhibited internationally since 1996.
