Viesturs “Vee” Osvalds was born September 22, 1953 in Charlottesville, Virginia where he attended local public schools.
Actively interested in stained glass from the time he lived in Germany for a year as a high school student, Mr. Osvalds traveled extensively to see many of the great European cathedrals.
He majored in Studio Art at the University of Virginia 1972-76 and completed several semesters of introductory stained glass courses from professor Paul Martick.
Mr. Osvalds then attended Linauts Studio and School of Stained Glass in Mohnton, Pa. 1976-79. Mr. Linauts was an instructor at Rochester Institute of Technology before opening a school in his studio.
Mr. Osvalds continued apprenticeship and employment at Linauts Studio. 1979-81. The years spent at Mr. Linauts school and studio gave him the chance to thoroughly learn the technical skills necessary for a career in the stained glass field.
He was juried in as a renting member, McGuffey Art Center. October 1981
Mr. Osvalds has worked on a wide variety of commissions over the years, and several hundred commissions have been successfully completed. During this time, Mr. Osvalds has worked with other glass artists in the area and kept up with the latest developments and techniques in the profession through periodicals and research.