I first saw this artist’s work when I was searching for pieces for my post Chess (Set) Grandmasters. These are the precisely-cut, highly-polished optic glass pieces by Czech glass artist Vlastislav Janacek. In 1999, after years spent teaching glass cutting at the world-renowned Secondary School of Applied Arts for Glassmaking in Kamenicky Senov, Czech Republic, Vanacek left teaching to pursue his career as an independent artist.

Where does Janacek get his inspiration? Not even he seems to know.

“One cannot take credit for the inspiration that leads to creation. I go where the art leads me.”

What a wonderful way to spend your artistic life! While his chess set somewhat confounded me (how would you ever know what piece you were looking at?), I find his uniting of clean colors and sharp shapes really appealing.

All photos property of Vlastislav Janacek.