Martin Janecký

“The Czech Republic is rightfully proud of its globally recognized tradition of glassmaking. Today, glass-oriented artistic abstraction is regarded as a natural, albeit still somewhat peculiar, component of the arts.  

And so when an artist emerges, entirely removed from this framework, Czech art critics are often left scratching their heads. Martin Janecký’s expressive realism is somewhat alien to the Czech art scene, meaning it isn’t always met with a clear sense of comprehension. It is as if non-abstract works should primarily be viewed as handicraft instead of art. But in Janecký’s case, superb handicraft serves as a springboard for this unique artist to be able to capture emotions in his glass works. And such power is something we find only very rarely in the contemporary world of studio glass art. The Liberec-born Martin Janecký began working with glass at the age of thirteen at his father’s firm. After graduating from the Glass School Nový Bor he set out into the wider world. He gained experiences in places as far afield as South Africa, Sweden, Holland, and chiefly in the US, where he studied at the Pilchuck Glass School under Richard Royal and William Morris. It wasn’t long before Janecký himself became a highly sought teacher in his field. Among his most recognised strengths is an ability to master the glass moulding technology of so-called blowing and sculpting “inside the bubble”, a technique used to create startling original works.

Today, Janecký has earned a rightful place among the greatest not just Czech, but also global, stars of the glass art scene. His original works are generating great enthusiasm among galleries and collectors, including from global celebrities. His successes are not just the result of talent, creativity, and artistic boldness, but chiefly a considerable amount of hard work. Expertise in the field of glass art requires constant application and searching out new limits – and that is only possible with an all-encompassing day-to-day dedication. Although Janecký’s confidence as an artist has undoubtedly grown, he nonetheless remains humble with regards to his chosen material, knowing there is still so much to discover. And this approach is evidently one of the key reasons why Martin Janecký’s glass works are so remarkably distinct.” Dr. Petr Nový,

Education:

1994-1998 Glass School Navy Bor

2006 Pilchuck Glass School, USA (Richard Royal)

2006-2007 Pilchuck Glass School, USA (William Morris)

Selected Exhibitions:

Art Prague, Praha, CZ

Ajeto Museum Bor, CZ

Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, USA

Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, USA

Museum Kampa/ Permanent Exhibition of Contemporary Glass Art, Praha, CZ

New Glass and Photography, Berlin, DE

Rising Star Presenter, Wheaton Village Museum of American Glass, Millville, USA

Sklářské muzeum Nový Bor, Nový Bor, CZ

Sklářské muzeum Nový Bor, Solo exhibition, Nový Bor, CZ

Taos Institute for Glass Arts, Taos, USA

The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa 2010, JP

Výstava Mezinárodního sklářského sympozia

Professional Experience Demonstrating Artist:

Academy of Fine Arts, Wroclaw, PL Bild-Werk-Frauenau, Frauenau, DE California College of the Arts, Oakland, USA Canberra Glassworks, Canberra, AU Centre for the Development of Glass Industry, Firozabad, IN Chrysler Museum of Art: Artist in Residence, Norfolk, USA Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, USA Eugene Glass School, Eugene, USA Glassworks demonstration for the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Canberra, AU Hastings College, Hastings, USA Hsinchu International Glass Art Festival, Hsinchu, TW I. International Odunpazarı Glass Festival, TR Ignite Glass Studios, Chicago, USA JamFactory, Adelaide, AU National Glass Centre, Sunderland, UK National Glass Museum, Leerdam, NL Penland School of Crafts, Bakersville, USA Penn Studios, Los Angeles, USA Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, USA Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, USA Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, USA Pretoria, ZAF Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL Sklářské studio Bon, Nový Bor, CZ Tacoma Museum of Glass, Tacoma, USA The Australian National University, School of Art, Canberra, AU The Glass Furnace, Istanbul, TR The Glass Hub, Stowford, UK The School of Design, Bornholm, DK Toyama City Institute of Glass Art, Toyama, JP Wheaton Village Museum of American Glass, Millville, USA