Rudolf H. Buenz 1903-1992
Rudolf Heinrich Buenz was born in Hamburg, Germany where he studied at Kunst Gewerbe Schuler and apprenticed for three years with Crystel Kuball. Buenz immigrated to the U.S. in 1925 with the help of his cousin, the author of the Katzenjammer Kids cartoon, Rudolf Dirks. Buenz began working for Otto Heinigke Studios in New York where he created windows for churches in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Peru. In 1927-1928 he worked for Brinks Studio and did restoration work at Riverside Church for the Rockefeller family. Buenz worked briefly in Philadelphia and Boston before opening his own studio in Newton, New Jersey.
Here we hope to memorialize, catalogue, and preserve his work for future generations.
This website has been created to memorialize Rudolf Buenz’s art and collectively preserve it for future generations. Please contact us with any information, photos, or questions about Rudolf Buenz’s work.
We are more than happy to receive any and all information about his art. The website is a Work-In-Progress built by the surviving descendants of Rudolf Buenz, we would like to include as much of his artwork here as possible. If you are willing to contribute photos or information, send us an email at rudolfbuenzglass@gmail.com or message us through our contact page.
About “Rudi”
Rudolf Buenz, affectionately called “Rudi” by those that knew him, was a masterful artist that worked in many mediums but made his living designing and crafting stained glass windows and glass art from the mid 1920s until the late 1980s. After his schooling in Hamburg, Rudi immigrated to the United States and began working in Glass studios in New York.
Young Rudi (center) pictured at his first job in America
Young Rudi during his stay with his cousins, the Dirks