Brian Clarke, Visionary Stained-Glass Artist, Passes Away at 71

Brian Clarke, a leading figure in the evolution of stained glass art who expanded the medium’s role from traditional religious contexts to contemporary public and commercial spaces, died at his London residence on July 1, just one day before turning 72.

His passing was due to cancer, as confirmed by the art services firm representing him.

Reflecting on his career, Clarke once remarked that stained glass was a declining art form when he began working with it. He believed early on that its survival depended on embracing applications beyond ecclesiastical buildings and finding new expression within public architecture.

While Clarke produced stained-glass works for religious sites, his creations also graced prominent secular venues such as Pfizer’s Manhattan headquarters, the Victoria Leeds shopping district in England, and the Lake Sagami Country Club in Japan. He collaborated with renowned architects including Norman Foster, Arata Isozaki, and Zaha Hadid.

Among his final achievements was “Concordia,” an immense installation completed this year at Bahrain International Airport. Comprising 127 vivid stained-glass panels, the artwork features motifs like jasmine flowers, dragonflies, and hawks, alongside Islamic geometric designs and nods to medieval European tapestries and illuminated manuscripts.

Measuring 112 feet wide by nearly 56 feet tall and weighing over 30 tons, this installation ranks among the largest stained-glass works worldwide.