Lothar Böttcher

Born in 1973 to German immigrants, Lothar grew up on a small holding outside Pretoria.
In 1991 he matriculated and went to study at the Fine and Applied Arts campus of the Tshwane University of Technology. Lothar was introduced to glass as an expressive medium in 1994 when the newly established glass department was opened.
Glass presented technical challenges which inspired him to further his studies. In 1997 he enrolled at the Staatliche Glasfachschule Hadamar, Germany, where he perfected his cold working abilities under the guidance of masters Josef Welzel and Willie Pistor.
In 2001 he returned to his hometown, Pretoria and established himself as a leading voice in the South African glass and art scene.

Through Lothar's optical sculptures, he explores contiguous spaces with a contemporary twist. Applying skills of almost-forgotten glass-working techniques, he fearlessly and intentionally carves, grinds and polishes this optical medium into sculptural portals, bringing the immediacy of experience back into our lives.

Lothar was instrumental in establishing the South African Glass Art Society, hosting exhibitions nationally in 2004 and 2005 and together with Dr. Ingram Anderson and the Pretoria Art Association curated in 2016 an exhibition showcasing current glass art trends in Southern Africa.
Lothar also instigated and curated Blow Your Sculpture, a collaborative project to introduce glass as a creative medium to other artists an public alike. Blow Your Sculpture is exhibited at the Pretoria Art Museum till the end of 2016.