Meet the Maker: Feminine Form with Justine Menard

In Justine Menard’s world, glass is never simply an object. It is meant to be lifted, passed, refilled, and lived with, part of the quiet rituals that unfold when people gather. Born and creatively shaped in Paris, and now based in Barcelona, Menard’s practice is guided by intuition, slowness, and a sensitivity to how objects inhabit shared spaces. Her handblown glassware carries a sense of romance without excess, with forms that feel as natural at the table as they do in moments of pause.

Parisian Influence on Form
and Function

Before working with glass, Menard’s creative language was shaped through styling. Immersed in Paris’s world of fashion and visual composition, she learned at an early age to see form not as an isolated gesture, but as part of a larger narrative. Paris, in particular, instilled an appreciation for objects that age with grace—pieces that do not demand attention, but reveal themselves slowly through use. Meals shared over time. Glasses lifted again and again. Objects that become familiar through repetition.

“In Paris, I learned how emotion can be conveyed through subtlety—through proportion, texture, restraint."

That sensitivity continues to guide her work in glass. Each piece is conceived not only as a functional object, but as something beautiful that holds presence within a room, a gathering, or a moment in time.

Artisan Shaped Calypso Carafe

$525.00

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Artisan Shaped Water Glass | Set of 2

$350.00

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Feminine Form in Handblown Glass

In Menard’s studio, glass is shaped through attention rather than force. Molten glass responds to heat, breath, and timing, settling into silhouettes that feel intuitive rather than imposed. Rather than chasing symmetry or perfection, she embraces subtle variation—edges that soften, curves that shift slightly from one piece to the next. The result is glassware that feels considered, but never precious.

“Glass naturally invites softness. Its fluid state allows curves to emerge almost instinctively, guided more by gesture than by strict control.”

For Menard, femininity is not ornamental. It appears through balance and restraint—through forms that hold emotion without excess.

“Feminine form, for me, is not decorative. It’s about balance, vulnerability, and quiet strength.”

THE ART OF GATHERING Through
Glassware

For Menard, the table emerges as a recurring site of meaning. When creating tableware, the focus is always on touch, weight, and intimacy—how an object feels when held, passed, shared.

Scale and proportion reflect this intention. Her pieces are intimate and balanced, shaped by how they feel when held, poured from, and passed along.

"The table is a place of presence. It’s where time slows, where people gather without performance.”

When asked which piece she would hope someone chooses while setting a table for someone they love, her answer reflects a devotion to everyday ritual.

“A glass or a carafe—something meant to be used, lifted, refilled. Love often lives in small, repeated gestures.”

Ritual and Experimentation
in the Studio

Menard’s collections do not begin with sketches or strict direction. Instead, they often begin with a shift in rhythm, as forms emerge through making and gradually reveal their meaning.

Preparation is also an essential part of this process. Before glass is heated, the studio is reset—tools arranged, surfaces cleared, silence maintained. These gestures mark a threshold between intention and action.

“The act of preparing the space is essential—cleaning, arranging tools, working in silence.”

As her practice evolves, Menard’s glass is taking on a more sculptural presence without losing its purpose. Her pieces continue to exist between function and contemplation, designed to be integrated into daily life rather than set apart from it.

“The work is moving toward more sculptural presence while remaining rooted in use—objects meant to be lived with, touched, and slowly integrated into daily rituals.”

This balance defines how her work inhabits the home. Whether resting on a table or used in quiet moments of gathering, her glassware brings a sense of calm to shared spaces. In moments of union and togetherness, her pieces become quiet companions that are romantic not through excess, but through intention, care, and repeated use.

When asked how she hopes her pieces feel rather than how they look, her response is simple.

“Grounded. Soft. Calm. Objects that bring a sense of pause—something reassuring, almost familiar.”