A Unique Partnership

Art is a fickle thing. Infinitely varied in form and expression, possible to interpret in as many ways. It's greater than any one artist, yet it can peak directly to every single one of us. There is no absolute definition, but it could be said that art holds the ability to move our senses. Makes us feel, think and be inspired.

Through the Elvis Presley x Kosta Boda partnership, we combine two separate art forms to create a greater whole. Drawing on the uniting touchpoints of rock 'n' roll and glass – harmony, vibrancy, motion, emotion – this collaboration is a tribute to those shared qualities, the common ground of artistry.

The result is a collection of limited edition crystal guitars, created by glass artist Kjell Engman in collaboration with Elvis Presley Enterprises. The three guitars have separate distinct looks, colorations, and background stories – besides taking inspiration from different facets of Elvis’ lore.

The Legacy
With the Elvis Presley x Kosta Boda collection of crystal guitars, we want to honor the Elvis legacy with a tangible object. An art piece displaying your appreciation for him and his music – while also adding a beautiful collectible, a natural centerpiece to your home. To explore this intersection of rock 'n' roll and glass art, there is arguably no one better suited for the mission than Kjell Engman. A passion-driven virtuoso of both the glass-blowing studio and the musical stage, he has time and time again found novel ways to combine the best of these two worlds.

The King of Rock 'n' Roll, of course, lives on through his music. Ubiquitously accessible, from vintage vinyl to a mere tap on your phone. But to many of us, Elvis is so much more than sound waves and yellowing black-and-white photographs.

Follow That Dream

The definitive imperative that inspired this crystal guitar, "Follow That Dream", is the name of both a 1962 film starring Elvis and its title song. Done with a mesmerizing, metallic light-blue coloration, it's best described by Kjell Engman:

"The early sixties are in many ways Elvis' peak period for me. It coincided with color film bursting onto the cinema screen, and a kind of everything-is-possible outlook on the future. It was an enchanted time, vibrant colors were everywhere, and what felt like at least one new Elvis movie a year."

Burning Love

Besides bearing the name of his last top-ten single, released in 1972, this gold-and-silver-spangled crystal guitar is a celebration of the dual quality that characterizes the essence of rock 'n' roll – and to a degree, Elvis' own life.

"I wanted to combine the almost ostentatious look with a sort of dynamic of opposites. That force field between tender and hard, sweet and rough, that is the source of so much great art."

Graceland

With its classic shape and a coloration hinting at burgundy and dark wood, this guitar celebrates the 65th anniversary of Elvis purchasing Graceland (March 25, 1957).

"The unique piece represents what I like to call Elvis' acoustic foundation, an era that shaped him as an artist. lt's also a guitar type that is at the heart of the collection displayed at Graceland."

“I want to invite viewers to multisensory experiences that merge sets, carpets of sound, lights and other effects.”

- Kjell Engman

Stemming from a family of musicians, and with a background as a professional rock guitarist himself, musical influences play a large part in Kjell Engman's glass art – not least visible in his famed glass instruments. Bold colors, generous and playful shapes, and a constant presence of humor are other central elements in Engman's work.