Joana Dhiamandi, known as “The Glass Girl,” creates art with glass. She produces objects, jewelry, installations, and interior elements. Moreover, she combines her skills as an architect and artist to offer a unique perspective in the modern craft market.

Last night, she opened her solo exhibition “Constellation” at the Art Gallery in Tirana. Ardian Isufi curated it, while Ergys Krisiko coordinated the event.

In an interview, Dhiamandi explained that the exhibition unfolds in three phases: Laboratory, Genesis, and Constellation. Visitors experience it through movement and time rather than a linear path.

In the Genesis Room, sound plays a key role. It creates an inner pulse, a pre-verbal rhythm. Instead of explaining the works, it makes visitors feel them. Consequently, sound connects the body to matter and transforms the space into an immersive experience.

Each visitor builds a personal connection with the works, guided by individual rhythm and sensitivity.

For several years, Dhiamandi has directed QELQ – Tirana’s Glass Hub. She gradually expanded it from a small experimental lab into a public space.

“The center started as a family venture. My father is a glass artist and has worked in Tirana for over 25 years. I grew up around furnaces and materials. Therefore, glass has always been part of my life. Later, I realized that this experience should extend beyond the studio. Our goal is to make glass understandable and accessible. We want to show that it is not just decoration but a material with history, process, and value. Furthermore, the center promotes circular economy, education, and connections between art, craft, and community,” she said.

Most of her materials come from recycled glass, including bottles, industrial waste, and rejected fragments. She collaborates with local businesses and institutions to source these materials. Then, the team processes everything in-house, from selection to final transformation.

Dhiamandi draws inspiration from nature, Albanian landscapes, water, light, and memory. “I focus on the process and the story an object carries, not just the form,” she added.

One of her most popular collections is “Vjosa,” an artistic interpretation of an untouched river. She explained, “Glass behaves like water: sometimes transparent, sometimes broken, sometimes tense. It reflects flow, freedom, and natural balance. Moreover, the Vjosa National Park declaration gives this collection even more meaning.”

Tourists, collectors, and institutions abroad also favor her work. “They are drawn to authenticity. Her work is rooted locally and does not copy global trends,” Dhiamandi said.

The “Constellation” exhibition will remain open until 22 February at the Art Gallery in Tirana.

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