About the Artist
Learn more about the artist behind Gallerie Varda’s unique, travel-inspired artifacts for life and home, then jump to the bottom of the page to view a selection of Varda’s stunning private and public commissioned works!
Meet Varda Avnisan
“I’m a multidisciplinary, self-taught artist who works across a variety of media, including glass, textile design, fiber art and painting.
Inspired by my multilingual and multicultural upbringing in Israel, and by a subsequent lifetime of travel and exploration, my work celebrates the wonders of the world’s unique cultures by transforming them into art and design objects for people to cherish in their own homes and lives.
My creative process is intuitive: I received no formal training in any of the art forms that I practice in my studio outside Washington D.C. I thrive in the freedom that comes with not feeling the need to follow any rules.
Whether sculpting vessels in a style inspired by the 1960s kiln-form studio glass revolution, exploring methods originating in the venerated tradition of Venetian glassblowing, or recalling in print the textiles of ancient bazaars -
I have learned to allow my instincts for color, design, and texture to guide my process.
I was born in Jerusalem to a large immigrant family at a time of profound political unrest and economic upheaval. I was one of 10 children, and I started working at the age of 12. We didn’t have the luxury of art or imagination. My childhood was challenging, but I was able to find solace and inspiration in the blending of arts and cultures that define this ancient and beautiful city.
From a young age, I was captivated by how the Jewish, Roman, Christian and Islamic cultures wove together contrasting architectural styles to create a many-layered visual wonderland.
Every layer of this place designed and brought to life by a real person with their own detailed, deeply human story - a story whose meaning is both changed and amplified by the connecting, overlapping designs surrounding it. In my later travels around the country and across the world, I have continued to seek out these architectural wonders, the civilizations that created them, and the stories that they reveal:
A mosque with its gold dome shimmering in the sunlight.
A Moroccan courtyard with its intricate tile decorations
exploding with color.
An ancient church with luminescent stained glass windows.
Strolling through centuries-old markets, I am dazed by the juxtaposition of colors and patterns: mounds of spices reminiscent of paint pigments, textiles whose patterns weave stories of peoples and cultures, and fabrics so deeply saturated with sensual color that they beg to be seen and touched.
These are the visions that awaken my senses and fuel my creativity in the studio.
While I did not have the privilege of growing up in a home that could nurture my love for art and design, I have since dedicated myself to creating the space that I so deeply desired as a child for myself and my family. And through my creative practice, I’m now able to share this experience with you.
Welcome to Gallerie Varda.
Welcome to a lifetime of memories, joy, stories, struggles, cultures, and creativity. Welcome to my interpretation of our shared human experience, which I invite you to bring into your own life and home.
I invite you to celebrate the world’s unique cultures with me. I hope you cherish them - and this art - as much
as I do.”
Commissioned Work
Designing and installing commissioned art is an especially exciting and enriching experience. Collaborating with other members of a design team and working towards a common goal deepens my appreciation of (and dedication to) the power of art in public spaces. It has elevated and expanded my perspective when it comes to what I can do for my art, and what my art can do for others.
Explore recent commissioned works in the gallery below.
Chapel Panels Project
Aurora University, Williams Bay, Wisconsin
The project was to create four art glass panels to be installed in the Ingalls Children's Building on the campus of Aurora University in Williams Bay Wisconsin. The original building was completed in 1925 and it was built in the Arts and Crafts tradition with emphasis on simplicity of form and natural materials. The university embarked on a renovation of the building and in July 2018 it was rededicated as the Chapel.
The project was to create an artistic and inspirational focal point in the chapel, by creating 4 large panels to be installed over the windows, across the entrance and behind the communion table. Each window measures 16”x69”. The windows can be seen from anywhere in the chapel and create a stark contrast to the semi-modern and neutral interior of the chapel. The setting of the chapel is on Geneva Lake and is surrounded by lush forest. I aimed to create art that would reflect this setting and the colors of blue for lake and sky, and green for the lush forest. My purpose was to create a special ambiance for meditation, contemplation and reflection - a place where those who worship can appreciate art, nature and their spiritual connection to life.
Art Glass Panels Private Residence
Bethesda, MD
This art project was to create 4 art glass panels in 2 cabinet doors to be used as a focal point in the kitchen, while providing artistic passage to the dining area. Each cabinet has 2 upper doors where the panels where installed. Each panel is 10x48”. The design is of a hilly landscape and I used transparent and iridescent glass. The cabinets are lit from the inside.
Kitchen Art Windows
Potomac, MD
Client commission was to create two art glass doors to go into cabinets in a French style kitchen. The idea was to integrate art into the kitchen, a space that is used constantly and create artistic and intimate environment. Installed lighting inside the cabinets using fused glass panels and lighting inside the cabinet.
Question for Varda? Reach out directly!
With its striking blend of colors and mountainous shape, this sculpture takes inspiration from the grandeur of mountains and their undulating contours and soaring peaks. Features a vibrant palette of red, amber, purple, and orange that intertwine and blend, evoking the majesty of a fiery sunset over a rugged peak. Custom display stand included.
Dimensions: 17.5″H, 19.5″W, 4″D