“Rather than dwelling on loss, I reconstruct beauty from what remains. Nature offers profound examples of transformation—moving from destruction to renewal—and this contrast is central to my work. I create space for moments of misalignment, for the disruptions that shape and define our lives.
I am drawn to states of decay: the dilapidated, eroded, and demolished. These visual textures resonate with emotional depth and personal significance. I work primarily with glass and other materials often discarded items once used to contain or protect, but which have become hazardous through violence or neglect. By reclaiming these fragments, I challenge the stigma of waste and restore their purpose.
Through the reformation of domestic objects and the integration of textures and forms drawn from endangered flora and fauna, I offer these materials a renewed sense of belonging and value. They carry quiet warmth and refuge, hinting at resilience and vulnerability in the aftermath of upheaval. “
Jenna Efrein is a glass sculptor and designer originally from Brooklyn, New York, now based in Miami, Florida. She began working with glass at the age of 18 and has since mastered a diverse range of techniques. Efrein holds an MFA in Sculpture/Dimensional Studies from the School of Art and Design at Alfred University and currently serves as Senior Lecturer of Glass at the University of Miami.
Since relocating to Miami in 2014, Efrein has presented four solo exhibitions, most notably the Mindy Solomon Galley, and participated in over 30 group shows. She has been the recipient of two Artist Access Grants from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with FUNDarte. She is a resident artist at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami.
In 2018, Efrein was awarded a Merit Scholarship to attend the Vermont Studio Residency. She was also selected for the Oolite Arts’ Home + Away program, participating in a retreat at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in 2021. Most recently, she was awarded the Corral & Cathers Art Fund through the Coral Gables Community Foundation to support her work in the summer of 2025.