Benny Motzfeldt (1909-1995): Norwegian Glass Designer and Sculptor

Benny Anette Motzfeldt (1909-1995) was a graphic artist, glass designer, and sculptor from Norway.

Biography

Benny Anette Berg Motzfeldt was born at Levanger in Trøndelag, Norway. She was Benny Marie Dahl’s daughter (1878–1955) and physician Andreas Berg Nilssen (1876–1952). She attended the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry (Statens Hndverks- og Kunstindustriskole) from 1931 to 1935. She debuted at Oslo’s Autumn Exhibition (Hstutstillingen) (1936). Christiania Glasmagasin (1955) and Hadeland Glassverk hired her as a glass art designer (1955-67). She served as an artistic director at Randsfjord Glassworks from 1967 to 1970 and then as the director of Glasshytta at PLUS in Fredrikstad from 1970 to 1979.

Exhibitions

Motzfeldt is best known for her glass creations. Her work is on show at the National Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design in Oslo, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Kunstindustrimuseum in Copenhagen, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, and the Frauenau Glass Museum in Germany (donation Wolfgang Kermer). 

Recognition

Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav was bestowed upon her (1985). She won the Souvenir-prisen in 1964, the Jakob-prisen in 1969, and the Prince Eugen Medal in 1970. (1985). She and poet Halldis Moren Vesaas (1907–1995) shared the Anders Jahre Cultural Prize (Anders Jahres kulturpris) in 1992.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Wikipedia contributors. (2020, November 24). Benny Motzfeldt. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:08, March 31, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benny_Motzfeldt&oldid=990339085

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