Biography

Daniel N. Marder is an internationally recognized and collected artist who has been creating fine art since the early 1980s. He holds a Master’s Degree in Glass from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University and a BFA in Art & Technology and Art History from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Marder has furthered his education at prestigious institutions, including Temple Rome in Italy, the Rhode Island School of Design, The Australian National University in Canberra, and the Institute of Art in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Marder founded the Glass Program at Salisbury University in Maryland, solidifying the curriculum for majors in the Maryland State System, where he taught for nearly a decade. He then established the premier community-use Glass School and Gallery on Chicago’s North Shore, called Making Glass LLC, in his hometown of Highland Park, Illinois. During this time, he also served on the Chamber of Commerce, honing his expertise as a community activist.

Daniel and his partner met at the studio, and after a motorcycle ride and an art night date at the High School FOCUS on the Arts event—where Marder first experienced glassblowing 20 years earlier—it was clear they were a couple. Daniel made the decision to shift his focus from being a solo artist to becoming the primary caregiver for their two children, enabling his partner to develop her career. The Marders spent four years as expatriates in Tokyo, Japan, before repatriating to Harvard, Massachusetts, where Daniel maintains a private studio near the Historic Shaker Village.

Marder co-founded The Theriac Project with Joseph Ivacic, whom he describes as a genuine human, an incredibly talented artist, and his closest friend and studio mate, and Dar Dixon, a very talented actor, director, social activist, and provocative friend. The combined experiences and styles of this group create a unique approach that helps reach a varied audience that might otherwise be missed, focusing on keeping socially relevant issues at the forefront. This initiative uses art to foster dialogue and provide a platform for social action amidst the overwhelming misinformation that distracts and disempowers people every day.

Marder’s technique is informed by his experiences as a studio art maker and in 4D arts, including film and live stagecraft, both as a performer and in backstage production. He orchestrates decisive moments that reveal socially relevant issues, shaping our understanding of true meaning beyond initial surface impressions. Themes of social relevance and calls to action are ever-present in his work. Utilizing blown glass, found objects, AI-prompted narratives, generative systems, and monoprinting techniques, Marder encapsulates moments in time, creating captivating one-off handmade objects and monotypes. His contemporary artwork resonates deeply, making it a sought-after addition for discerning collectors worldwide.