Q Most commissioned art tends to be expensive fine art, such as portraiture. Is it possible to commission something more practical, such as homeware?
WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS:
Vanessa Lee Taub of the new Galerie Vee says so-called functional art can certainly be commissioned. 'Functional art is something you can use every day, such as a vase, bowl, teapot, spoon or perfume bottle,' she says. But just because you can use it doesn't mean it's not art. 'These are significant artists who have worked in galleries around the world,' Lee Taub says. 'Each piece is signed and totally unique. Their production is a slow process. It's not mass production.'
CREATIVE PROCESS: 'The first thing is to determine the dimensions of the art you want. There are limits on sizes in glass blowing, for example,' says Lee Taub. 'Secondly, you should have an idea of what you want. Glass? Ceramics? Do you want a window, a window covering, a water feature or a vase? You have to make your own guidelines ... You could say you love a certain type of teapot, for example, but want them in another colour.'
Lee Taub represents South African glass artists such as David Reade and Nelius Britz. '[Britz] does cast work, like special glass pebbles,' she says. 'Sue Meyer is very well known and does cast glass. Liz Lacey studied with Reade, and does very accessible glass art such as vases and perfume bottles.'
Lee Taub also recommends Martli Jansen van Rensburg, and Merle Martin.
'In ceramics, Linda Hojem does terrific work. She's really underexposed but so original,' she says.
