Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy Maultasch.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I taught myself ceramics, then attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC. I had to leave after one semester due to financial issues in my family. I taught myself how to make jewelry and helped put myself through college by selling Sterling Silver, Turquoise and Coral jewelry. During college, I taught myself how to create stained glass panels. After college I went to law school and became an attorney.
In 2011, I started Maultasch Glass Studio and created many large-scale panels such as Badlands which is the panel you have profiled. I have many other panels which I think you might like as Chicago has a reputation as a city that loves stained glass. I do not use any paint or enamel in my panels, only handmade, hand shaped glass. The process is referred to as the copper foil method though I have expanded it by using metal wire to add strength to the panels. It is labor intensive and every piece is hand cut, wrapped in copper foil and covered in a tin lead solder. If you want a more in-depth discussion of the process and the current world of stained glass, I’d be happy to discuss it with you.
I’d also be happy to send you pictures of my other glass panels though Badlands, named after the Bruce Springsteen song, is one of my favorites. The book the woman is reading has words from Badlands which is the only song that Bruce plays in every concert. I think of it as his anthem. Thanks for taking the time to read my bio. I really appreciate it.
Please tell us about your art.
It is an extremely labor-intensive process in which I use only handmade glass and no paint. Most of my panels include people who are heroic in some way to me or places, things and people I am fond of (such as pinball machines). I am proud that I am one of a handful of glass artists who is profiled on the Uroboros website, a company which is considered one of the finest glass creators in the world. There are almost no other artists working in glass today that create panels using only glass without paint or ground glass know as frit.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Being a fine artist is much more challenging than our society lets on. We like art but simply don’t want to pay for it except as an investment and few artists create art that is considered investment quality by the experts.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work is available by contacting me at randymaultasch@gmail.com or on my website www.maultaschglassstudio.com.
Contact Info:
- Address: 232 Andalusia Ave Ste 350
Coral Gables, FL 33134 - Website: www.maultaschglassstudio.com
- Phone: 3052859500
- Email: randymaultasch@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Randy Maultasch
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
