The second issue of Powersurge’s In Good Company series takes us inside the Kingsland workshop of Monmouth Glass Studio, where glassmaker Isaac Katzoff explores the relationship between material, making and the creative process.
Glassblowing is a process of transformation. Molten material becomes sculptural form through patience, precision and a close understanding of the medium. This quiet alchemy sits at the centre of the second instalment of In Good Company, a series by Powersurge that observes the people and practices shaping contemporary craft.
For Issue Two, Powersurge spends time with Isaac Katzoff at Monmouth Glass Studio’s Kingsland workshop in Tāmaki Makaurau. The two studios, collaborators for over a decade, share a quiet respect for material, process and the possibilities of thoughtful design.
Katzoff first encountered glass in 1999 while studying at Southern Illinois University. An unexpected introduction became a lifelong pursuit, shaped by old glass manufacturing houses in Europe and America, and the architectural language of Aotearoa.
“There is, here, a very unique style of architecture that is all about simplicity of material and closeness to the elements that I really appreciate,” Isaac says. “In my work I have found this same kind of timeless beauty in simple forms and simple colours.”
Through photography and conversation, In Good Company offers a glimpse into Isaac’s world: the atmosphere of his workshop and his ongoing exploration of vases, decorative pieces and lighting.
