Martli Jansen van Rensburg have been working as an artist and glass designers for the last twelve years.
She finished her degree in Fine Arts at TUT in 2000, received a scholarship to study glass design in Sweden in 2007 and had extensive training as a glass blower in the UK, Germany and Scotland. Currently she produces art, designs work for Molten, runs a shop called Sand with partner Sielja Voss and lectures sculpture part-time at Tshwane University of Technology.
ARTIST
Though Martli has excelled as a designer, she also sees herself first as a conceptual artist exploring the realm of abstract forms, and second as a glass blower, who practices a craft or skill. She puts forward a persuasive case for glass, for the physical process of making it, and its ability to express abstract truth, which has traditionally been the territory of fine arts. In the last twelve years she was part of many group exhibitions locally and abroad and worked on various art projects eg. Grolch at 2010 Artfair, Coca –Cola, Absa Bank, Absa Capital, Cell C, Absolute Vodka and British Airways, Durban Slow Lounge. Her work has been finalist on competitions like the Absa Atelier, Brett Kebble artist Award, Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Award and FNB Crafts Award.
GLASS DESIGN BRAND_ Molten
In 2003 she established a glass design company called MOLTEN. The products range from everyday utilitarian products, limited edition vases, bowls and custom made lights. She works with various architects and interior designers to produce custom made lights and commissions. These products can be seen in various hotels, restaurants and private houses. In 2009 molten won the Elle Decorations – Edida Awards for best table-ware in South Africa.
SMELT GLASS STUDIO
In 2008 Martli joined partnership with Ilse Doyer and Glamosa Glass to start Smelt glass studio in Melville, Johannesburg. The main focus of the studio was to promote the innovation and exploration of glass. They developed Smelt as a brand, training facility, retail space and full time production studio. In collaboration with Martli, the studio produces her Molten design range and her art projects. In 2009, 2010 Smelt launched a color full range with Molten called the Everyday range and Indigenous ranges. The Sielja Voss/ Smelt range has been sold at Terence Conran shops in London, Milan, Japan, Ireland and was part of the welcome home range of Boardmans 2011.
TEACHER
Martli has always had a passion for teaching and sharing her skills and developing glass in South Africa. Between 2004-2008 she was a lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology in the glass department and during 2008 -2011 she trained young up coming artist and rural glass blowers from Kwa-Zulu Natal at Smelt glass studio. At smelt studio she hosted a student project for the National Arts Council and was part of the Ekhuruleni mentorship Program for 2009. Currently Martli lectures sculpture part time at Tshwane University of Technology, Fine Arts Department.
SAND: ART -GALLER -SHOP
Sand studio is a collaboration between Sielja Voss and Martli Jansen van Rensburg. This collaboration was born in 2010 when the two designers worked on the branding and interior for Blos café in Pretoria. At Blos they’ve established a shop called Sand which sells local hand-made products and their own glass ranges. Sand studio hosts events in the garden at Blos café every second month. The Blos mark and moonlight cinema shows local South African designers products!
See our facebook page – blosmark, for our next event.
CV taken from http://moltenglass.co.za/?page_id=12
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