Lisa Swerling’s Glass Cathedrals are a series of artbox sculptures containing brilliant tiny worlds, each making their own small statement on our complicated lives.“…the work is like ripping up the floor of an old home and finding an entire other floor that belonged to the owners from half a century ago. It is magical and new and familiar all at the same time.”
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Casa New, special commission
A family's portrait in front of their self-designed home in Spain. This unique Glass Cathedral is based on their photos, house plans...a place of dreams...
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Freewheelin’ London Also Hampstead Heath, San Francisco
The freedom of the city! The figures match your description (gender + hair colour). Suggest your own city map.
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A Woman’s Work
The only bit of housework I enjoy is sweeping, especially sweeping up pink glitter. I feel like some ideal of womanhood. This lovely lady carefully sweeps up the sparkling remains of the day, dignified and optimistic.
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All the Days Customisable
Based on the classic marriage vow "All the Days of your Lives...". The figures match your description (gender + hair colour).
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All the World’s a Stage
A voyeuristic glimpse into the lives of others, some attention-seeking, others seeking privacy. Limited edition (200). Figures will vary from shown.
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An Utter Disregard for Consequences
She is in so much trouble! ...but will be forgiven anything. The graffiti is drawn by a child (!) so will vary from piece to piece. Gender and hair colour customisable and you can ask for a name and a couple of relevant themes to be scribbled on the wall.
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And on the eighth day, God created Pizzazz
All that sparkles upon the earth...
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Après-ski Customisable
This was a special commission for a group who have skied together for many years. Figures can be partially customised with colour of outfits, hair, gender, etc.
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Believe.
"Do you believe in fairies? Say quick that you believe. If you believe, clap your hands!"
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Bisou Bisou
Kisses from Paris - a special commission but I'm sure a sentiment shared by many.
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Born to Rock
Soldiers of song, march on!
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Cleanliness is next to Godliness
I'm fascinated with the parallels between prayer/religion and cleaning/cleanliness - the physical act, the transformative effect, the moral dimension...or maybe it's just because I'm messy.
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Contemplating Pinkness
Wouldn't the world be a better place if covered in a fine layer of pink sparkle?
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Dance me to the End of Love
The party's over, the chairs are stacked, everyone else has gone home. The title is based on the Leonard Cohen song...although you either already knew that or you wouldn't care too much anyway :-)
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Destined for Greatness
We are all destined for greatness.
Just with some of us it seems to be taking longer than anticipated. -
Dream Big
Open to commissions on this theme - childhood dreams of being a football star (in your team colours!), a show-jumper, a trapeze artist, Barbie....
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Evergreen Customisable
An old tree, a shared life, enduring love.
Your choice of initials are carved on the tree and it can be customised with figures matching your description. -
Faith in Superglue
But did I actually use superglue?...
The bus will vary for each commission. -
Family Tree Customisable
Your choice of initials are carved on the tree and the figures will match your family description (hair colour, gender, age - not an exact physical match!). Price includes up to 6 figures.
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Farty Party Customisable
Go on you know you want to
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Feature Wall Customisable
A man's home may be his castle, but a woman's home is her Art.
I can make unique Feature Wall Glass Cathedrals, using off-cuts of your special 'feature' wallpaper. Email me for details of how it works. -
Feeling Guilty?
Well if you weren't already, you will be now.
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Fifteen minutes of Fame
Your moment in the spotlight - enjoy!
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Flight
I am pretty excited about this new piece. It feels like the start of an amazing new phase for Glass Cathedrals.
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God’s Gaze
So free!
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Golden Customisable
We played on the beach every day, even when the wind howled. Childhood memories stay golden no matter the weather. Your choice of names are written in the sand and the figures will match your family description.
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Gone Fishin’ New
A bad day of fishing is better than a good day doing anything else (apparently).
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Happy Days Customisable
Customisable with the London park of your choice (if possible), some little creatures and figures to match your pnick-knickers.
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Hello ‘ello ‘ello
From afar I've begun to appreciate England as a rare island of (relatively) liberal values and common sense.
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How much is that Doggy?
Someone buy that kid a dog!
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I (heart) New York Customisable
What do you love about your home city? The figure and map are customisable.
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I do! Customisable
Every love story is unique...proposals or weddings captured in a perfectly sparkling box. Customisable map and figures (with or without moped!).
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In case of Dullness, Blow
A-tishoo!
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In case of Emergency Break Glass
Keeping all options open!
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Killing time until the apocolypse
They're on a tie-break btw. Go god go.
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Love Affair Customisable.
Wake up to a gorgeous view every day. This Glass Cathedral can be customized with any people (including families) who love their cities - and each other. Possible with maps, and sans hearts.
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Marathon Customisable
Heroic. The map encompasses the whole London Marathon course. I will naturally customise the figure to resemble your runner, appearance, colours and number etc. No banana suits!
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May we grow old on one pillow Customisable
This piece is based on a traditional wedding blessing, so I wanted to surround the couple with a thousand twinkling stars as they slept.
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Of one thing I am certain
In an uncertain world...
Add the name of your choice onto the flag (5 letters maximum). Artwork also available with female figure. -
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One is small, but two can touch the sky
Dads are magic.
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Original Creation Customisable
Mud - the start of life and our final destination. May as well enjoy getting a bit muddy in the middle - you never know you could create something amazing...
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Party People
Go party people!
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People watching
It would be nice to hang this in a cafe or corridor, so that mutually interesting people watching could occur.
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Precious Customisable
Customisable with choice of skin and hair colour, and baby's birth details. Can add siblings too.
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Proof
Hard to photograph this wriggly little fairy. I let her go afterwards.
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Purely Decorative
Unapologetically, lovingly, purely decorative...
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Rule Britannia! Customisable
Have a portrait of your family with the Queen and Prince Philip! Customised to match your family's description - age, gender, skin colour, hair style and colour.
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Shameless
Special commission for everyone's favourite redhead... Joan Cusack. With reference to her role in the TV show 'Shameless' and now on display in her Chicago shop 'Judy Maxwell'.
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Small creatures such as we
A special commission, expressing the joy of family life by composing the figures on a simple meaningful object. The title is part of the Carl Sagan quotation: "For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."
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Smile!
Well it's hard not to, isn't it?
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Smoking Kills
This was one of my first boxes, designed about 7 years ago. Most people see it as anti-smoking, I'm thinking - hm - so god smokes Marlborough Lights?
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Sunseekers
I made this Glass Cathedral just before relocating from London to California. Weirdly, I felt I was leaving behind me a nation of sunseekers....
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Surf’s Up Special commission.
The architect who commissioned this has a house by the sea, and positioned his Glass Cathedral so that the mirror would reflect the Atlantic Ocean. Would love to see it on a stormy day!
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Sweet Dreams
The title is inspired by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Spring 2012 group exhibition entitled Sweet Dreams. Not for sale.
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The Dream Life of Cows
Maybe I should lay grass on the outside of the box for the next one I make. Yes!
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The Grass is always Greener
Rarely, I find a figure more perfectly at home in a Glass Cathedral than his makers could ever have dreamt when they designed him. The orange-shirted man in The Grass is always Greener, gaze fixed, hose eternally at the ready, is one such happy find.
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The Green
For the man who has everything....
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The Hugging Bed Customisable
A moment in time like no other. The figures will match your family description (hair colour, gender, age - not an exact physical match). No dogs allowed on the bed! (just kidding)
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The Marriage Vow
A beautiful leap into the unknown.
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The Naughty Corner
When the whole world is as small (or as vast) as the corner of a room.
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The Night Job
I love the way the space inside a Glass Cathedral can be as infinite as the night sky or contained in a room.
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The Reading Room
Shhhh.....
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The Seed Customisable
The little heart sign can have your choice of initials and/or a date. The hair colour is also customisable.
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The World is a scary place, but I have Armbands
A classic and well-loved piece.
The American version says 'waterwings' and not 'armbands'. -
This is it
Actually one of the first Glass Cathedrals I ever made, I recently found some photos of it.
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Travel far, travel light Customisable
In London, my husband Ralph used to pop out for milk. Now he pops out to ride up a mountain. Your choice of initials on vest, and of clothing colors. Map also customizable if required.
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Under Construction
A bad photo of a great piece. Can you see they're standing round a hole? No-one can resist the temptation to wiggle their finger inside the box.
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Unplugged
Don't pull out your bath plug folks!
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Waiting for Inspiration
An empty space? Or filled with the infinite possibilities of inspiration...
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Walk with light Customisable
Dark forest, dappled light. The magical Redwood trails of Northern California.
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Wallflower
How sweetly she waits, always hopeful. For whom is she waiting? And for how long? A beautiful melancholy piece - one of my favourites.
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Where we are New with Mount Tam + Kilimanjaro. Customisable
I never feel quite so grounded as when hiking. Suggest your own map and gender of hikers.
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White Christmas Customisable
My first Glass Cathedral with interior lighting. The lights are blue-white, but the box doesn't look blue like in the Darkness detail shot, it's tricky to photograph.
Customisable with figures matching your family. -
Word up: dance Customisable
Choose your own word or phrase...hot mama...sparkle...snozcumber...with corresponding customised little person/s. This one was the perfect gift for a dancing queen.
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Yes, you look fabulous!
Just add 'you' - smiling at yourself in the mirror!