Jochen Holz

Jochen Holz is a glass artist whose innovative employment of lampworking, a form of glassblowing used primarily to make scientific equipment, is re-purposing the technique in the design and art world. Whilst he has received training in scientific lampworking, Holz has chosen to practice it creatively; a radical departure from its traditional usage which positions him as one of the only people working in his field in the UK. Holz undertook an apprenticeship in scientific lampworking, at the Glasfachschule Hadamar/ Germany, followed by a BA in glass at Edinburgh School of Art and an MA at the Royal College of Art.  

Through extensive practice, Holz has developed a distinct language in his craft. One example is his method for texturing clear glass tubes by pressing molten areas onto different surfaces such as perforated metal or wood, resulting in textured, undulating tableware. Always pushing perceived ideas of his material, Holz sees this tableware series–enriched with character, shape and history–as the antithesis of Walter Benjamin’s idea that glass is a ‘material with no aura’. 

His work with neon is similarly original. Examining the possibilities of sculptural lighting, he bypasses the conventional thin, wall-mounted lamps and opts instead for thick borosilicate glass tubing to create free-standing 3D shapes and immersive light installations for Salone del Mobile and Future Heritage. Holz has developed work in a range of contexts from fashion jewellery for Peter Pilotto’sAW17 show to gallery work with See-ds and numerous design fairs such as Nomad Monaco and Miami Basel and Trèsor. Holz has been the recipient of numerous awards, most recently he won the Arts Foundation Prize 2018 and in 2015 the commission competition Guild of the Master Glass Sellers.

At Future Heritage

Fir Future Heritage in 2018, Holz created a huge neon chandelier made of bent tubes and a series of free-standing neon light sculptures. This impressive structure presented an eye-element that drew a lot of interest and admiration during the three-day event.

Current work

Holz makes glassware collections, but has been concentrating on his shows. His latest solo show was ‘disrupt’ with Make, Hauser and Wirth Somerset. He has an upcoming summer show with the New Art Centre.