A stained glass artist since 1996 and now a recognized master craftswoman, Sklaerenn Imbeaud opened her workshop in 2004 where she and her team work on the maintenance, restoration, and creation of stained glass and artworks. Let’s take a look at her background.
Exploring Various Arts to Find Her Calling
As a child Sklaerenn benefited from an education rich in learning experiences. After 10 years of acting, dancing, plastic arts, musical training—from classical to rock— she found her path: glass artist, an artistic and manual craft with multiple, interdisciplinary skills at the intersection of her love for heritage and contemporary art.
She left Auvergne for Rodez, where she began her apprenticeship. Student at Cerfav, the prestigious European Research and Training Centre for Glass Arts in Vannes-Le-Châtel (54), and working part-time at the Ver’Art workshop, she discovered the secrets of glassmaking, glasswork, and stained glass. She obtained her CAP in Glass Art with a specialization in Stained Glass and she did not stop: she expanded her expertise by specializing in glass decoration under the guidance of stained glass artist Élisabeth Brenas in Carcassonne. For eight years, she acquired new skills (glass decoration, sandblasting, etc.), thrived professionally, and eventually dreamed of opening her own workshop.
Today, a Workshop of 8 to 10 People
In 2004, she turned that dream into reality by founding her workshop in Castres. Starting on her own, she hired her first apprentice, Aurélie, in 2008, who quickly blossomed into a skilled stained glass artist. Today, her workshop is now a true hive of activity and creativity, bringing together about ten people—employees, apprentices, and interns—most of whom are women.
Sklaerenn, who once aspired to become a teacher, now channels her passion for sharing knowledge: over three decades, she has trained more than 200 individuals...
Creation and Contemporary Art
In 2010, as she was preparing for the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France) competition, she refined her artistic aspirations. In 2012, her career took a significant turn thanks to her collaboration with visual artist and engraver Martine Benabou. Together, they exhibited innovative works combining paper, glass, and metal engraving.
The artist conducts personal research and creative work, producing sculptures and art objects. Through her artistic encounters and inspirations, she has developed collaborations with artists like Reï, a metal sculptor, and Michel Goldstyn, a porcelain ceramicist.
Today, Sklaerenn transcends traditional stained glass. Her works, characterized by clean lines, stand out for their originality, boldness, and deep emotional resonance. She liberates movement from conventional frames, allowing colours to flourish beyond the glass—a signature of her style. As an "architect of light", she enjoys complete creative freedom in this practice, in contrast to the constraints of restoration work.
"Stained glass transforms the space in which it is placed, according to the variations of light and the seasons."
Artistic Crafts
Committed to expanding the influence and recognition of the expertise of artistic crafts, Sklaerenn Imbeaud has been elected to the "Chambre des Métiers et de l’Artisanat de Région Occitanie" (Occitanie Regional Chamber of Trades and Crafts) for over 15 years and serves as President of the Artistic Crafts Commission.