Czech-born Marcela Bahar is an award-winning clay and glass artist who has twice been featured on HGTV. As a new Canadian she embraced her parents’ work ethic and determined she would achieve success through her own hard work.
Marcela started as a couturier, designing clothing for private clientele and creating templates for the manufacturing sector. In the early ’80s, during the economic downturn, Marcela decided to take a risk and pursue another passion. She returned to the Czech Republic to study clay and glass design under renowned national artist Miloslav Cech. To support herself she secured a job teaching conversational English to senior business leaders. Upon returning to Canada she set up a successful clay and glass studio.
Marcela has worked in various galleries, most notably, the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery where she co-curated national and international exhibitions. She was also featured at the Art Gallery of Ontario and was a juried exhibitor each year at the “One of a Kind” Show in Toronto.
After 20 successful years in the field, Marcela took a couple of years off to explore other interests. An opportunity presented itself that she could not refuse, to be the lead designer and branding advisor for the White Squirrel Golf Club. Her vision was to take a quiet county course and make it into a spectacular tourist destination. Her latest gem is the design of a zero net energy building that houses both a pro shop and state of the art bar.
Her most recent award, The Grand Bend Rotary Club’s Service Award for Outstanding Contribution to her Community is a testament to her vision.
Marcela’s advice to other artists – “Do not compare yourself to others. You are an original. Act like one! Dare to do things on your own terms.”
