Stephanie Fassler

Stephanie Fassler is an artist and designer. Her career began with a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Witwatersrand. Upon completion of her degree her father, the late John Fassler, suggested that she apply her talent to working with glass as she had been fascinated with the quality of light through coloured glass windows as a child.

She left for England where she studied the ancient medieval craft of stained glass. She refined her design abilities in the studio of master craftsman Patrick Reytiens and under the tutelage of internationally famous artist, John Piper. During her apprenticeship, Stephanie assisted with the construction of stained glass windows for the Eton School Chapel, the Liverpool Cathedral Lantern and many more new churches and buildings in England. She has recently completed an intensive training in glass fusion under the international Duch artist Frank Van der Ham.

Stephanie opened her own studio in London. In 1973 she returned to South Africa to establish a studio in Johannesburg. She perfected various techniques of working in coloured glass, some of these techniques include leaded stained glass windows, lampshades (using the master Tiffany as inspiration) and the modern technique of 'dalles-de-verres' (in which slabs of glass are set in either concrete or resin). Later her more three dimensional approach to working with glass has lead to more sculptural pieces and unusual light fittings.

Among her more important window comissions are those in the following buildings: The Senate Chamber of Wits University, the Rand Water Board Building, Rodean School Chapel, the hospital chapel in Kimberly (a national monument), The Oxford Synagogue, Christ Church in Constantia (her first three dimensional window), the Everard Read Gallery, Price Forbes and the Institute of South African Architects as well as a comission for the late Brett Kebbel estate. 

Stephanie also produces lamps and windows for private comissions and her work can be found as far afield as England, Germany, Australia, Austria, Prortugal and Canada. Her latest and largest stained glass window was made for the private home of the chairman of one of our leading mining companies.

Stephanie has participated in a number of exhibitions such as at the Everard Read Gallery, The University of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Art Gallery.