Our story

It started in a garage.

A shared love of glass and creativity brought us together under the expert guidance of glass artist Carol Mullany. Through years of learning, experimentation, and friendship, our individual voices emerged — each distinct, yet united by a deep respect for the material and the fire that shapes it.

Today, The Glass Girls are a collective of four South African glass artists creating work that ranges from functional glassware to expressive wall art and sculptural pieces. Each artist brings her own history and aesthetic, bound by a belief that art should be accessible.

Karin Gerard

Where art history meets quiet devotion

Karin’s journey is rooted in classical training and global experience. Her early studies at the University of the Witwatersrand fostered a love for life drawing, art theory and history, followed by a qualification in graphic design from the Johannesburg College of Art. Her career took her to Munich, where she worked in graphic design and photography, refining an eye for composition, detail, and storytelling.

On returning to South Africa, Karin discovered fused glass and with it, a lifelong calling.

She is best known for her hand-painted, one-of-a-kind glass flowers, particularly the iconic South African protea. Each piece is delicately painted and signed in 18-carat liquid gold.

For Karin, painting on glass is meditation, a quiet, focused practice. Her plates and bowls have travelled across continents, carrying a distinctly South African story into homes around the world.

Michelle Migdal

Drawn by colour, depth, and dimension

For Michelle, fused glass was love at first sight.

The colours.
The textures.
The endless creative possibilities.

From that first encounter, her fascination grew into a distinctive artistic voice. Michelle’s work explores depth and movement, often expressed through woven glass, layered wall art, and three-dimensional scenes that invite closer inspection.

She is especially known for her art glass mezuzahs and custom wedding plates, which are highly sought after. Each piece is thoughtfully composed, deeply personal, and designed to mark meaningful moments.

Michelle’s work celebrates glass not just as material, but as an experience.

Patti Monk

Stories painted in glass

Patti’s glass journey began in 2003, inspired by friendship and curiosity. Learning stained glass, she quickly built a diverse repertoire, from doors and windows to candle lights, Christmas decorations and Tiffany lamps. But it was within the studio that Patti discovered her true calling: painting on glass.

Her work focuses on hand-painted scenes, created as both wall art and functional plates. Rich in narrative and cultural detail, her pieces resonate strongly.

Through her glass, Patti captures moments, landscapes and stories, preserving them in colour and light.

Glenys Wolmarans

From healing to artistry

Glenys’ journey with glass began at a turning point in her life. Trained in interior design at the Johannesburg College of Art, her creative path was unexpectedly reshaped after a serious car accident in her twenties. As part of her recovery, she was introduced to stained glass through occupational therapy. What began as healing soon became passion and opened up a world of colour, light and possibility.

Further studies in glass fusing at Pretoria Art College led her to the glass studio in Johannesburg, where her style took form.

Today, Glenys specialises in working with bullseye glass, creating both functional pieces and striking wall art. Her work reflects resilience, balance, and a deep appreciation for the quiet power of colour and form.