Estonian

Yulia Vakina is a Tallinn-based glass artist whose practice explores the creative potential of reclaimed bottle glass. Working primarily with found and previously used glass, she investigates how discarded functional objects can be transformed into autonomous works of art. Experimentation lies at the core of her process. Rather than treating bottle glass as a substitute for studio glass, she examines its unique material properties and how they challenge conventional techniques, tools, and methods. Her work focuses on the technical limitations and creative possibilities that emerge when working with this alternative material. Yulia is particularly interested in moments of transformation—when a familiar form breaks down and a new structure begins to emerge. For her, reuse is not only an ecological choice but also an aesthetic and conceptual position, revealing the history embedded in the material while opening new possibilities for it's future. In 2026, Yulia graduated cum laude with a BA in Glass, Ceramics, Jewellery and Blacksmithing from the Estonian Academy of Arts. She will continue her studies in the MA Craft Studies programme. She is the recipient of the Maks Roosma Award 2026.