Artist Statement
Martin Blank has admired the grace and flow of the human form since childhood, digging into clay at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts at age 13. In 1984, Martin earned a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design. That same year, Blank moved west to begin his professional career in Seattle, working at the center for studio glass and learning from the driving force behind it; Mr. Dale Chihuly. Blank worked on the Chihuly team, bringing his infectious enthusiasm and courageous desire to push the material for several years, all the while establishing his own contributions to the glass movement.
Blank's early figurative work swiftly solidified his place as a premier figurative sculptor working in glass. Blank then expanded his contributions to the contemporary glass scene in 2001 when he introduced his sensual and fluid abstract landscapes.
Says Blank, “I am an intuitive artist. I work on the way forms relate to each other to cut a line in space that flows, turns and carries the eye around the piece. The forms reveal a negative space that is as vital and potent as the actual objects. My sculptural work is as much about the void as the mass.”
Martin Blank's work is about carving space. From the commanding musculature of a male torso, to the sensual curve of a vibrant scarlet abstract element, to the placid elegance of monumental glass trees, Martin Blank's creations evoke a direct connection to natural forms. He has created multiple installations in prestigious corporate lobbies and continues to provide impressive public art installations, one of which Fluent Steps, can be seen at the Tacoma Museum of Glass. Fluent Steps is a 200 feet long outdoor sculpture. Martin Blank continues to push the boundaries of glass as a material in contemporary fine art.
Currently, Martin Blank is working with Silverstein Properties to create a two monumental glass sculptures for the courtyard of the Four Seasons Hotel New York, New York. Scheduled to open June 2016.
Resume
BORN
1962 August 29, Sharon, MA
EDUCATION
1984 Rhode Island School of Design, BFA
HONORS & AWARDS
2011 Presented ‘Award of Excellence’ for the International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2010 38th Annual International Glass Invitational Award Winner, Habatat Gallery, MI
Presented ‘Award of Excellence’ for the International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2006 34th Annual International Glass Invitational Award Winner, Habatat Gallery, MI
2005 Repose in Amber tour site for Public Art & Architecture Tour, Chicago, IL
2003 Selected to propose public art commission for 7 World Trade Center
1996 Art In Embassies, American Embassy to Slovakia
1990 Artists Grant, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
1986 Artists Grant, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2016 Steam Portrait, Four Seasons, New York, New York (in progress)
2013 Winged Victory, Four Seasons, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Golden Wheat Landscape, Pendleton Hospital, Pendleton, OR
Government Hotel, Putuo District, Shanghai, China
2009 Fluent Steps, permanent exterior installation, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA
2004 Repose in Amber, 120 La Salle Chicago, IL
Echo, Orchestral Hall, Detroit, MI
The Giving & Winds of Inspiration, Arthur M. Blank Foundation, Atlanta, GA
Access to Learning Award, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA
2001 Eternal Light, The Temple, Nashville, TN
1999 Current, Melvin Poll Inc., Seattle, WA
1998 Amber Duet, Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
1995 Drinking from the Cup, Everett Properties, Bellevue, WA
Silver Blue Nikkos, The Benaroya Company, Seattle, WA
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2013 Lecturer, SOFA, Chicago, IL
2008 Unprecedented 42 day residency, Museum of Glass, Tacoma WA
2007 5th Anniversary Visiting Artist, Museum of Glass, Tacoma WA
2006 Chihulys’ Gaffers, Demonstration, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA
2003 Visiting Artist, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA
Visiting Artist, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
2001 Visiting Artist, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Visiting Artist, Wheaton Village, Visiting Artist, Millville, NJ
Visiting Artist, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Shows and Museums
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITIONS (2008 - Current)
2015
Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN
2014
Tacoma Museum of Art, Tacoma, WA
Toledo Museum of Fine Art, Toledo, OH
Dayton Celebrates Glass: Chihuly, Littleton, Labino and Beyond, Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH
2013
Contemporary Glass Sculpture, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL
Northwest Collects, Museum Of Glass, Tacoma, WA
White Box Museum, Beijing, China
Ringling Museum, Philip and Nancy Kotlers Collection, Sarasota, FL
Coos Bay Museum, Coos Bay, OR
Naples Museum Of Art, Naples, FL
2012
Seven Bridges Foundation, Greenwich, CT
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
50 Years of Studio Glass, Museum of Art & Craft Kentucky, Louisville, KY
Evolution/Revolution: 50 Years of American Studio Glass, Dennos Museum Center, MI
Fifty Years: Contemporary American Glass from Illinois Collections, Krannart Art Museum, Champaign, IL
Chazen Museum of Art, Madison, WI
2010
Go Figure, Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University Contemporary Collection, Stanford, CA
Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2009
Museum of Glass, Tacoma WA
2008
Steninge Palace Cultural Center, Sweden
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada
Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, Neenah, WI
New Britain Museum of America Art, New Britain, CT
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (2008 - Current)
2013
Schantz Galleries Contemporary Art, Stockbridge, MA
Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH
2009
Imago Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
Habatat Gallery, Chicago, IL
William Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
2007
Hawk Gallery, Columbus, OH
Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS (2008 - Current)
2013
Red, Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Gallery Artist Group Exhibition, Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
Art Palm Beach, with Echt Gallery IL
Visions, The Next 50 years, 41st Annual International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
SOFA Chicago, represented by Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
2012
Anniversary Edition: International Glass Invitational & Expose, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
American Studio Glass: Fifty Years of Extraordinary Achievement,
Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL
Expressions: International Glass Invitational, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, MI
SOFA Chicago, represented by Habatat Gallery MI
2011
Project Room, Imago Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
39th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Art Palm Beach, represented by Habatat Gallery MI
Art Naples, represented by Habatat Gallery MI
2010
Carving Spaces: Martin Blank & Steve Jensen, Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH
SOFA Chicago, with Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
38th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
Art Palm Beach, with Habatat Galleries, FL
2009
Fluent Steps Series, Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
New Work, Imago Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
SOFA Chicago, IL, with Habatat Gallery MI
Art Palm Beach, with Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
37th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2008
SOFA Chicago, with Habatat Gallery MI
SOFA NY, with Habatat Gallery Chicago
Art Palm Beach, with Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
International Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
36th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Anton Art Center, Mt. Clemens, MI
2013
Red, Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Gallery Artist Group Exhibition, Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
Art Palm Beach, with Echt Gallery IL
Visions, The Next 50 years, 41st Annual International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
SOFA Chicago, represented by Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
2012
Anniversary Edition: International Glass Invitational & Expose, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
American Studio Glass: Fifty Years of Extraordinary Achievement,
Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL
Expressions: International Glass Invitational, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, MI
SOFA Chicago, represented by Habatat Gallery MI
2011
Project Room, Imago Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
39th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Art Palm Beach, represented by Habatat Gallery MI
Art Naples, represented by Habatat Gallery MI
2010
Carving Spaces: Martin Blank & Steve Jensen, Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH
SOFA Chicago, with Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
38th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
Art Palm Beach, with Habatat Galleries, FL
2009
Fluent Steps Series, Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
New Work, Imago Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
SOFA Chicago, IL, with Habatat Gallery MI
Art Palm Beach, with Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
37th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2008
SOFA Chicago, with Habatat Gallery MI
SOFA NY, with Habatat Gallery Chicago
Art Palm Beach, with Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
International Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
36th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Anton Art Center, Mt. Clemens, MI