Martin Blank
Artist processes
Martin Blank has admired the grace and flow of the human form since childhood, having begun 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 and moved west to begin his professional career in Seattle. Working at the epicenter for studio glass, Martin learned from the driving force behind it; Mr. Dale Chihuly. He worked on the Chihuly team, bringing his infectious enthusiasm and courageous desire to push the material of glass to its limit 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. He 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 sensuous curve of a vibrant scarlet abstract element, to the placid elegance of monumental glass trees, his creations evoke a direct connection to natural forms. Over the years he has created multiple installations in prestigious corporate lobbies and continues to provide impressive public art installations, one of which Repose in Amber, can be viewed in the Karl S. and Ella L. Bolander Gallery of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Among the museum’s growing collection of glass art, this is the largest installation to date. In further news, Current was provided with a new home after being re-installed in the Tacoma Art Museum during the third week of December, 2018.
2013 Contemporary Glass Sculpture, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL
Northwest Collects, Museum Of Glass, Tacoma, WA
White Box Museum, Beijing, China
Ringling Museum, 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
2007 Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY
2006 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA
Block Museum, NW University, Evanston, IL
2005 Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL
2004 Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL
2003 Museum of Northwest Art La Conner, WA
Honolulu Academy of Art, HI
2001 International Glass Exhibition, Shanghai Fine Arts Museum, China
Millennium Museum, Beijing, China
1996 Museum of Contemporary Art, Lake Worth, FL
The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Nashville, TN
2020 SOFA Chicago, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2019 SOFA Chicago, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
47th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH
2018 SOFA Chicago, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
46th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2017 Crystal Reveal, Friesen Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
SOFA Chicago, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
45th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2015 Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA
SOFA Chicago, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
43rd International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2014 SOFA Chicago, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
42nd International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2013 Contemporary Glass Sculpture, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL
Northwest Collects, Museum Of Glass, Tacoma, WA
White Box Museum, Beijing, China
Ringling Museum, 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
2007 Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY
2006 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA
Block Museum, NW University, Evanston, IL
2005 Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL
2004 Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL
2003 Museum of Northwest Art La Conner, WA
Honolulu Academy of Art, HI
2001 International Glass Exhibition, Shanghai Fine Arts Museum, China
Millennium Museum, Beijing, China
1996 Museum of Contemporary Art, Lake Worth, FL
The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Nashville, TN
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
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
2006 Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH
2005 Hawk Gallery, Columbus OH
Habatat Galleries, Chicago, IL
2002 William Traver Gallery Seattle, WA
Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
2001 Habatat Galleries, Chicago, IL
Riley Hawk Gallery, Cleveland, OH
2000 Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
Friesen Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
1999 William Traver Gallery Seattle, WA
1998 Habatat Galleries, Chicago, IL
William Traver Gallery Seattle, WA
Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
1997 Riley Hawk Gallery, Cleveland, OH
1996 William Traver Gallery Seattle, WA
Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
Friesen Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
1995 Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
Friesen Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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
2007 New Work, Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA
La Galerie International du Verre, Biot , France
35th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
SOFA Chicago, with Habatat Gallery Michigan
SOFA NY, with Habatat Gallery Chicago
Behind Glass: Creativity and Collaboration, The Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
SOFA NY, Habatat Gallery Chicago0
2006 Sculpture and Drawings, Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
William Traver Gallery, Tacoma WA
Art Scottsdale, with Habatat Gallery, Chicago, IL
34th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2005 33th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
2004 International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
32rd International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
2003 31nd International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
2002 30th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI
2001 Toronto International Art Fair, Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1999 1999-2009 A Region Collects, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA
1998 William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
1997 Yamaki Art Gallery, Osaka, Japan
Heller Gallery, New York, NY
Meitetsu Art Gallery, Nagoya, Japan
1996 J. Gallery, Hong Kong, 1996
Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta, GA
William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
Riley Hawk Gallery, Columbus, OH
Horwich Lewallen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
1996 Grand Central Gallery, Tampa, FL
SOFA NY, with Grand Central Gallery, Tampa FL
1995 SOFA Miami, with Grand Central Gallery, Tampa, FL
Helander Gallery, Palm Beach
Friesen Fine Art, Seattle, WA
Taiwan International Invitational, Taipei, Taiwan
SELECTED PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
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
2003 Visiting Artist, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
2001 Visiting Artist, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
2001 Visiting Artist, Wheaton Village, Visiting Artist, Millville, NJ
2001 Visiting Artist, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
1999 Visiting Artist, Hastings College, Hastings, NE
1998 Visiting Artist, Bellingham Museum of Art, Bellingham, WA
1996 Visiting Artist, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
1996 Bellevue Art Guild, Bellevue WA
1996 Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1995 “Chihuly Over Venice” at Waterford Crystal, Waterford, Ireland
1995 “Chihuly Over Venice” at Nuutajarvi, Finland
1995 Visiting Artist, Miami University, Miami, FL
1994 Visiting Artist, Palomar College, San Marcos, CA
1994 Visiting Artist, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
1994 Visiting Artist, NY Experimental Glass, New York, NY
1994 Visiting Artist, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
1993 Visiting Artist, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
1992 Visiting Artist, NY Experimental Glass, New York, NY
1992 Visiting Artist, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
1991 Visiting Artist, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
1991 Visiting Artist, Wheaton Village, Millville, NJ
1991 Visiting Artist, Contemporary Art Glass Museum, Ebetoft, Denmark
