Art in Motion, Light in Glass
Artist Statement
Art has always been my passion, my solace, and my profession. From early childhood I was drawn to painting and decorative arts. I graduated from art school at 16, studied under esteemed artists, and attended courses across different countries. Over the years my practice has evolved, but my main focus today lies in contemporary stained-glass painting and mixed media on canvas.
For more than 15 years I have specialized in modern stained-glass techniques that do not require traditional soldering. Instead, I paint on glass with transparent paints that recreate the luminous effect of classical stained glass, while allowing for intricate details and expressive compositions. My work extends beyond glass panels to include windows, mirrors, furniture, and decorative lighting.
I have spent a long time searching for my own artistic path within stained glass. Today there are around eight different approaches to creating stained-glass art — from traditional leaded glass to fully digital methods. About twenty years ago I chose my own direction and have been refining it ever since. I create my own paints, gels, and pastes, experiment with textures, and add unconventional elements such as mosaic fragments, wood, metal, shells, and dried plants. This fusion expands the boundaries of what stained glass can be while staying true to its classical principles: transparency, sunlight, and the richness of colour.
This approach has grown into an evolving personal style, which I call:
“Light in Motion: Contemporary Stained Glass.”
By merging classical drawing with glass art, I create works that move between tradition and innovation. My subjects range from landscapes, flowers, and still lifes to geometric and abstract compositions. Each piece may involve mosaic, contouring, layering, or dotting, carefully developed over weeks of reflection.
Stained glass, for me, is not only about technique — it is about emotion, spirit, and connection. Whether depicting a blooming flower, a soaring bird, or a delicate bee, I strive to capture an essence that resonates with viewers.
I also draw immense energy from conversations with visitors at exhibitions and fairs. Their feedback inspires me to return to the studio with renewed vision. This dialogue between artist and audience — between light and emotion — is the true heart of my art.
In recent years I have also explored mixed media: combining liquid acrylics on canvas with glass, metal, paper, fabric, and other textures. This has opened new horizons for me, while reinforcing my central artistic goal: to create works that transform light into motion and colour into feeling.
Artist Biography
As an artist, I work under the name Sana Biden (Oxana Baydina). My artistic journey began in Russia, where I grew up surrounded by a family of artists — my father, aunt, and sister practiced a wide range of techniques from watercolor and ink to oil and pastel. Art became my language long before words, shaping both my identity and my future path.
My formal education began at the Central Children’s Art School in Moscow, located at the Palace of Pioneers (1970–1977), where I received rigorous classical training and graduated in 1978. In the following years my early works were exhibited internationally in Russia, Japan, and Poland. Initially my practice was rooted in traditional painting with oils, watercolours, and pastels, but around twenty years ago I turned to stained glass as my primary medium.
Today, my artistic direction is defined by what I call “Light in Motion: Contemporary Stained Glass.” Unlike traditional soldered glass, my approach combines glass painting with transparent pigments, gels, and pastes, enhanced by unconventional materials such as mosaic, wood, metal, shells, and dried plants. This evolving style remains faithful to the classical principles of stained glass — transparency, sunlight, and colour diversity — while opening new horizons of expression.
My subjects are inspired by nature, animals, landscapes, and abstract forms, often reflecting influences from Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Each piece is both carefully designed and intuitively developed, aiming to capture the emotion, essence, and spirit of its subject.
Since moving to Canada in 2016, I have been actively engaged in the BC arts community. My work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the province and is held in private collections and public spaces. Exhibiting with organizations such as the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation, Blackberry Artist’s Association, Place des Arts Gallery, Mission Arts Council, and Circle Craft Holiday Market, I continue to explore the intersection of tradition and innovation in stained glass, while building meaningful connections with audiences through light and colour.
Education
• 1970–1977: Moscow Central Art School at the Russian Academy of Arts
• 1995: College Art and Design Talm, Tours, France
• 2005: Studio ART INDIGO, Moscow, Russia
Selected Exhibitions and Shows
• 2016–2018: Member, Blackberry Artist’s Association, Port Moody Arts Centre
• 2017: Group Exhibitions, Port Moody Library, White Rock Library, Blackberry Artist’s Association
• 2018: Group Exhibitions, Hycroft Manor (Vancouver), Vancouver Public Library
• 2022: Art Show Ukraine Fundraiser, Holy Eucharist Cathedral, New Westminster
• 2023: Member, Watershed Artworks Society, Delta, BC (Gallery Shop Exhibits)
• 2023: Member, Vancouver Visual Art Foundation, Vancouver, BC
• 2024: Solo Exhibition, Art@Bentall Gallery, Vancouver
• 2024: Art Shows, Lot 19 (Vancouver), Langley Fine Arts Fair and Festival, Circle Craft Holiday Market (Vancouver Convention Centre)
• 2025: Peggy Staber Memorial Exhibition: Blue (Mission Arts Council)
• 2025: Langley Community Center Exhibition
• 2025: Place des Arts Gallery, Coquitlam Heritage: Your Image