A week immersed in color and artistry
In the heart of Munich's Maxvorstadt district, a young artist named Kateryna Luzghanova (21) has found a new home at Van Treeck, one of the oldest glass painting families in the city, established in 1887.
Kateryna, who previously studied cultural sciences in Lviv, Ukraine, had to flee in February 2022 due to the outbreak of war and couldn't finish her studies. She then moved to Munich to learn German intensively and later found an apprenticeship at Van Treeck, thanks to the help of the International Munich Art Lab (Imal), a non-profit organisation.
Kateryna's first week at Van Treeck was filled with coats of arms, as she began her training as a stained glass decorator. She wears gloves and a protective mask while working, and her days are spent working with lead colors, which are stored in a 'poison cabinet'.
Kateryna has always had a passion for the arts, with a background in drawing since her childhood. She was particularly interested in artistic fields such as porcelain or glass painting. Now, she feels very comfortable at Van Treeck, appreciating being part of so much beauty and creating and touching things like church windows.
Van Treeck's work can be found in churches, libraries, and historical and modern buildings all over the world. In 2022, they implemented Gerhard Richter's glass window designs for the Abbey Church of Tholey. The Katharinenkirche in Reutlingen, Germany, features stained glass windows originally made by the glass painting family Van Treeck, though the choir windows lost during World War II were later renewed.
Kateryna is currently working on coats of arms at Van Treeck. She mentioned that the color sometimes turns out differently than expected, but she is determined to perfect her craft. After her apprenticeship, she might continue studying at the art academy, as she expressed that she thinks studying at the art academy might help her repair something inside her, as she loved her university in Lviv very much.
Kateryna is happy to have found something artistic in a small traditional business like Van Treeck. She is currently working alongside the workshop, which is also working at the Frauenkirche, in addition to other locations. Van Treeck has worked with artists like Gerhard Richter, and Kateryna feels honoured to be a part of their legacy.
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