Jan Vyskocil
Managing Partner
Born in Sokolov in the Czech Republic in 1975. Jan studied at the world renown glass factory Moser in Czech Republic, starting in 1990. Here he learnt to blow glass and master his craft, finishing his study with honors in 1993.
After graduating he then worked at the factory until 2002, receiving payment for quality output on a freelance basis. This solid foundation in the highly skilled craft of glass blowing has made Jan very much in demand in the industry. He has blown glass all over the world; working on a variety of projects from production contracts to educational initiatives.
In April 2019 he co-founded Niesenglass with Maximilian Schlott and is currently living and working in Switzerland.
Maximilian Schlott
Managing Partner
Born in 1984 and raised in the Thuringian Forest, Germany.
Maximilian Schlott trained in the art of glass blowing at the BFS Glas Lauscha / DE. Here he specialised in design, pushing limits and becoming proficient with the material of glass. He then travelled to the glass college in Zwiesel / DE to continue his training and gained invaluable experience in production methods.
Subsequently he worked freelance as a glassmaker in various glassworks and workshops, deepening his knowledge. His experience creating for others and pursuing his own creative projects means that Max has a profound understanding of glass as a means of artistic expression, alongside the production skills needed to bring ideas to reality.
He also has an interest in other craft disciplines and has untaken training in metal construction and stone working.
In 2019 he co-founded Niesenglass with Jan Vyskocil and produces work for artists, designers and architects using the combination of all his experience and craft skills to date.
Fiona Byrne
Consultant
www.fionabyrne.com
Fiona Byrne is an Irish artist, educator and writer. She trained at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and has a joint degree in glass and visual culture. She has been awarded funding from the Arts Council of Ireland, the Thomas Dammann Junior Memorial Trust Awards and BLICKE Kultur Stadt Bern. She has exhibited internationally including showing her work in Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, France and the UK.
In addition to her artistic practice, she has worked extensively in the arts education sector. She has organised and led many exhibitions, events and workshops centred on the themes of engagement and process; examining the role of making in our society.
Fiona has experptises across a range of glass making techniques from hot glass, to kiln working and casting, to cold working.
Helena Ťapajnová
Consultant, designer
www.helenatapajnova.com
Helena Ťapajnová is an artist and designer. She works mainly with glass and porcelain. Helena studied glass design at the Tomas Bat’a University in Zlin (CZ) and graduated with a Master of Arts. She then completed a Master of Arts in Design, specializing in Integrative Design, at the Hochschulefür Gestaltung und Kunst FHNW in Basel.
After completing her second Master’s degree, HelenaŤapajnová co-founded “ASAP Studios” in Basel with two colleagues. In her independent work, she designs and produces glass sculptures, in a wide variety of glass and ceramic techniques.
Helena Ťapajnová has been working with the Fondation Beyeler for four years. She was commissioned to design the vases “Resonate” the vases trio “Dusk” and the vase Turmalili.
Helena Ťapajnová also teaches in various formats. Since 2022 Helena Tapajnova board member of the Swiss platform for glass and art professionals Verarte.
Louise Lang
Consultant
www.louiselang.de
Louise Lang (*1993, DE) is a fine artist and glassblower. After her glassblowing training, she ventures further to explore the boundaries of ‘glass as a material’ first in a two-year working travel (Weiberwalz) and later in her fine art studies at the Braunschweig University of Art, catching parts of the intangible and intuitive process to shape and transform it into other media.