Richard Wright

White Windows by Sasha Ward

Signatures panel in progress                                                    Two screens by Louis Barillet

Signatures panel in progress                                                    Two screens by Louis Barillet

When I was making the signatures panel border, made of recycled white glass, a visitor mentioned the work of Louis Barillet from the 1930s. When I saw his screens I could see the link. Now I am finding windows made of different types of textured white and clear glass everywhere.

National Portrait Gallery entrance                  Tate Britain : original window & detail from the new panel by Richard Wright (2013)

National Portrait Gallery entrance                  Tate Britain : original window & detail from the new panel by Richard Wright (2013)

There is a row of four white windows in the entrance of the National Portrait Gallery, and many examples of the genre in the newly refurbished Millbank Entrance of Tate Britain. When the building opened in 1898 there were two of these clear decorative windows, one was subsequently removed and a new leaded window by Richard Wright has been commissioned in its place. This window has the simplicity that I have noticed in so many stained glass windows designed by artists - from Henri Matisse to Gerhard Richter. I am reminded of the comments I got at college when I made my stained glass pictures; "the material is so beautiful you should let it speak for itself". I always wanted to do some of the speaking myself - the windows I really love bring a bit more personality into the buildings they inhabit.

Windows on the stairs to the members' room: windows inside the room with many textures and a wide bevel on the larger panes.

Windows on the stairs to the members' room: windows inside the room with many textures and a wide bevel on the larger panes.