Meet Claudia | Glass artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claudia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claudia, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
What many people don’t know about my industry is that my glass art is also a way to care for the planet. Rescuing discarded materials and giving them new life is part of my process. Innovating through recycling isn’t just possible, it’s urgent. Art can be part of the environmental solution ♻️

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What I believe sets me apart from other artists is the way I work with glass, my “favorite material” through both an artistic and utilitarian lens. I love creating my own sculptural and artistic pieces, but I also deeply enjoy designing and producing functional objects using bottles rescued from landfills.
One of the things I’m most proud of is my ability to move freely between the aesthetic and the practical. For example, right now I’m finishing a series of pre-Columbian replicas that pay tribute to the diverse Indigenous communities and cultures of my country, Colombia. This work will be exhibited in a solo show at a wonderful and meaningful place for me in the coming months. At the same time, I’m giving new life to simple discarded bottles, turning them into pieces filled with meaning and intention.
The place I find myself professionally today is the result of over 20 years of experience working with glass. Throughout this journey, I’ve explored its many forms, textures, sizes, colors, and techniques. It hasn’t always been easy, but the challenges this material has presented (often pushing me out of my comfort zone) have allowed me to discover its immense potential. Simultaneously, they’ve helped me reaffirm my professionalism, my strength, my resilience, and above all, my love, respect, and devotion for the art of glass During this long journey, I’ve learned many lessons.
One of the most important is that the things that come easy often hold little value.
What truly matters takes time, patience, research and a lot of “trial and error”, again and again.
I would love for people out there to know my story, to understand my business and what’s behind it:
a real commitment, born from the deep love and respect I feel for “Mother Nature”, our house!
My path has been real (full of ups and downs) but I’ve never stopped working, and I’ve never given up. And I truly believe that this consistency, this truth, is what makes my business stand out today.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had friends visiting here in South Florida, I would definitely take them to enjoy the beautiful sunrises on the beach of my town, or for a peaceful morning walk at Morikami Park (where I teach) a truly unique place surrounded by forest, tropical vegetation and Japanese-style gardens. After that, we’d go for a Cuban-style cortadito in Deerfield, and later enjoy a delicious ceviche at a Peruvian restaurant (because I love seafood), and there are some excellent spots here in Boca Raton.
In between, I’d also take them to explore the city of Delray Beach, its charming Downtown, as well as the Downtown area of Boca Raton, which is where I spend most of my time, my city.
And finally, to close the day in the best way, I’d take them to experience a breathtaking sunset in the Everglades, specifically at Loxahatchee Park in Boynton Beach.
Thank you so much for reading 🙏🏼

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The truth is that, until now, I’ve walked this path on my own, slowly building my creative vision. However, my husband and my kids have mostly been my greatest support. Also, the projects I’ve had the opportunity to create for chefs and hotels involved in sustainability initiatives have been more than collaborations — they’ve been a vital source of encouragement.
Each of these commissions has reaffirmed that I can trust my vision and my ability to take it further.
Thanks to those experiences, I now feel more grounded and determined to keep developing my personal project with greater conviction and purpose

Website: https://www.henaoglass.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiahenao.art.glass/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-henao-42710379/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Henao-Design-Glass-108712349205596/

Image Credits
I took all the pictures myself