Retief Van Wyk

Van Wyk was a foundation member of the CONSOL Glass House (1996) at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Tshwane University of Technology. He acted as subject leader for Glass and Ceramics till his retirement in 2018. Van Wyk now focuses on the production of architectural and domestic glass, produced at their GFA Glass studio. The GFA glass studio will enter its second decade of production in 2019.

Van Wyk studied Fine Arts, Ceramics and Glass acquiring an M-Tech in Fine Arts from the Tshwane University of Technology. He has lectured widely at academic institutions including Technikon Witwatersrand, University of Natal, and Technikon Pretoria. In 2018 Van Wyk was a guest lecturer at The Gerrit Rietveld Academy, The Large Glass Department in Amsterdam. He has numerous publications including The Ceramic Art of Robert Hodgins (Bell Roberts; 2008) and Technical Issues on Glass manufacture in India in: Science, Craft and Knowledge: Understanding of Science among artisans in India and South Africa- a cross cultural endeavour (Protea; 2002)

Van Wyk uses kiln forming techniques to manipulate glass into canvasses as formats for expression of his artistic approach. He often combines various media with glass for the creation of artistic work that are presented as gallery exhibits.  A more commercial aspect of his oeuvre employs glass blowing techniques for the creation of domestic and architectural glass.