Glass Safari 2026 – Past | Present | Future

The exhibition brings together works that trace the breadth of contemporary glass art in Southern Africa and beyond: pieces by leading South African glass artists, work by the international artists who joined Glass Safari 2026, and new work created during the biennale’s three project weeks in Pretoria and at Ngwenya in eSwatini. A collective display of graal works, a glass-jewellery showcase and a presentation of student work complete the show. Throughout the opening, visitors can watch live hot-glass demonstrations — a chance to meet the makers and see some of the international guest artists shaping glass first-hand.

Participating South African artists include David Reade, Lothar Böttcher, Caitlin Greenberg, Michael Hyam, Martli Jansen van Rensburg, Thato Kokwana, Inga Lokwe, Malebogo Molokoane, Melanie Dawson and Elin Hauklien, alongside work from Ngwenya Glass.

This exhibition brings three generations of glass into one room!

A highlight of the exhibition is a collective display of graal works created during the opening Smelt Sessions with David Reade. Graal is an intricate, multi-stage glassblowing technique, and these collaborative pieces represent the hands of artists, makers and students working side by side, including Suzanne Borman, Melanie Dawson, Malebogo Molokoane, Juanita du Plessis, Ryan Manual, Ian Redlinghuys, Guido Besouw, David Reade, Martli Jansen van Rensburg, Michael Hyam, Caitlin Greenberg, Lothar Böttcher, Elin Hauklien and TUT students Halle Gumede and Tyrone Mudzanani.

They are joined by the Glass Safari 2026 international artists — James Devereux, Katherine Huskie and Edmond Byrne (UK), Lancelot Fraser and Rob Stern (USA), Frederik Rombach (Belgium, raised in South Africa) and Tim Shaw (Australia).

The exhibition also presents two collaborative projects by Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) glass students: an international collaboration with De Montfort University (DMU) in the United Kingdom, facilitated by Glass Safari artist Edmond Byrne (DMU) and Caitlin Greenberg (TUT); and a collaboration between TUT glass and interior-design students developing specialised designs for consideration in the Ngwenya Glass production line.

A glass-jewellery showcase, curated by Melanie Dawson across six display cabinets, presents wearable work by invited glass jewellers, including Barbara Ewing and UK artist Katherine Huskie. Huskie’s jewellery will be on show on opening day only — she returns to the UK the following day — making the 25 July opening the single opportunity to see her pieces in person.

The exhibition is curated by Caitlin Greenberg, Lothar Böttcher and Martli Jansen van Rensburg, with Melanie Dawson curating the glass-jewellery showcase.

“For the past two years we have partnered with the Association of Arts Pretoria to bring African glass to the public, and we thank the Association for opening its doors to us once again. This exhibition brings three generations of glass into one room — the past, in the work of David Reade, a pioneer of South African studio glass; the present, in today’s practising artists and lecturers; and the future, in student work shown publicly for the first time. The foundation is laid, and it is solid,” says Lothar Böttcher, Chairperson of the Moya African Glass Network.

“Membership of Moya is open to everyone — ask any of our representatives at the exhibition, or scan the QR code to add your name and register your interest.”

The Glass Safari 2026 Exhibition is on at the Association of Arts Pretoria, 173 Mackie Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria, from 25 July to 15 August 2026. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday 09:00–17:00 and Saturday 09:00–13:00 (closed Sundays and Mondays). Entry is free.

Glass Safari 2026 is delivered by MAGN in partnership with Smelt Glass Studio, the Tshwane University of Technology, Ngwenya Glass and the Association of Arts Pretoria, and is supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Media and public enquiries

Lothar Böttcher — Chairperson, MAGN

Caitlin Greenberg — Secretary, MAGN

Michael Hyam — Treasurer, MAGN

Email: hello@moyaglass.africa

Instagram: @moya.african.glass

High-resolution images are available on request.

About the Moya African Glass Network

The Moya African Glass Network (MAGN) is a registered South African non-profit company founded by local glass artists and educators to promote glass art, share skills and resources, and connect and grow the glass-art community across the African continent. Through programmes such as Glass Safari — its flagship biennale — MAGN champions training, cultural exchange and the development of glass as a contemporary African art form.