KAREN FELDMAN
has always described herself as “a little quirky” – in fact, that’s quite an understatement. For example, as a Fine Art Photography major at Bard College, her senior thesis exhibition involved documenting the transformation in her skin color resulting from eating two pounds of carrots daily for 40 days straight (she graduated with honors – and jaundice!). Over the past 20+ years, Feldman has channeled her uniquely creative vision in a very different direction, and she has achieved remarkable success along the way.
As founder and proprietor of ARTĚL,
Feldman designs handmade luxury crystal glassware that blends modern design style with traditional Czech craftsmanship and is sought after by collectors and design connoisseurs around the world. ARTĚL’s unique collection fills a niche in the market by combining the exquisite quality of mouth-blown, hand-engraved, 100% lead-free Bohemian crystal with Feldman’s sophisticated-yet-whimsical approach to design.
Originally from New York,
Feldman moved to Prague in 1994 and launched ARTĚL in 1997 with only $2,500 of her own savings, zero experience in the glass industry, and (due to the socioeconomic conditions of a newly post-Communist Prague at that time) no telephone or fax machine for the first year! The company has grown significantly since those humble beginnings, and now enjoys a global reputation for the highest quality products and a client roster that includes ABC Carpet & Home, Asprey, and GUMP’S, among other exclusive retailers.
In 2007,
Feldman opened the first ARTĚL Design store, situated in the charming cobblestone streets of Prague’s historic Old Town. Under the vaulted ceilings of its baroque storefront, Feldman created a gallery-like environment featuring ARTĚL glassware showcased alongside an eclectic, personally curated selection of vintage and contemporary jewelry, toys, and other items of fine design. The following decade saw the launch of two additional retail shops around Prague; current retail operations are based in a single boutique located just below the iconic Charles Bridge.
Besides overseeing all aspects of ARTĚL,
Feldman also gained notoriety as an author with the publication of Prague: ARTĚL Style. This richly detailed “insider’s guide” to the City of Spires, based on Feldman’s insightful perspective as a long-term expat, includes expert tips and invaluable recommendations on hotels, dining, activities, and often-overlooked sights. In addition to being one of the best-selling Prague guidebooks on Amazon, Prague: ARTĚL Style was named Best Travel Guidebook by the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2014 and 2008.
Feldman has been the recipient of numerous other awards,
including the German Design Council’s Design Award (2019), the Tableware International Award of Excellence (2018 & 2020), the Gift & Decorative Magazine Retailers Excellence Award for Best Store Design (2011), the Czech Grand Design Award for Manufacturer of the Year (2009), and Best Collection at DesignBlok (2008), to name just a few. Feldman and the ARTĚL brand have also been featured in dozens of publications, including Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Forbes Life, and The New York Times.
