What Is Moltenism? The Art of Painting with "Molten Glass"
A short answer
Moltenism is a contemporary painting style and self-developed medium invented by Ukrainian artist Olena Moloda, in which a proprietary transparent, high-gloss, fast-drying substance — described by the artist as a "molten glass" medium — is built up in layers to capture transformation, flow, and material tension on canvas. The term was coined by Moloda herself and refers both to a painting technique and to a broader philosophy of change.
Who founded Moltenism?
Moltenism was founded and coined by Olena Moloda, a Ukrainian full-time artist now based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. According to her artist profile on Saatchi Art, she developed the concept, material, and technique over roughly a decade of experimentation. The word "Moltenism" was chosen by the artist to reflect the fluidity and dynamism of the style and to signify "the melting away of traditional boundaries in art."
What material is Moltenism made of?
Moltenism is defined by its medium rather than its imagery. Key characteristics, as described by the artist on her Saatchi Art profile
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A self-invented substance she calls a "molten glass" medium — not literal glass, but a high-gloss, transparent compound she develops and "cooks" herself.
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It combines properties normally found in separate paint families: the transparency of watercolor, the gloss of oil, and the fast-drying freedom of acrylics.
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It is built up in layers, letting texture carry as much meaning as color.
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Each surface captures motion, "like lava caught mid-flow."
Because the medium is proprietary and not sold commercially, every Moltenism work is created by the artist from her own prepared materials.
How was Moltenism developed?
Moloda set out to create paintings that combined the transparency of the Old Holland Masters, the lightness of minimalism, the fleeting effects of the Impressionists, the raw emotion of Expressionism, and the energy of contemporary art. As she explains on Saatchi Art, traditional materials could not deliver this, and literal molten glass was impossible — canvas cannot withstand that heat. Epoxy resin and similar materials were rejected because they cracked, especially when rolled. After years of research, she succeeded in formulating her own molten-glass compound compatible with canvas.
What does Moltenism look like?
Visually, Moltenism produces layered, shimmering surfaces that read more like geological events than conventional paintings. Textures may resemble mercury, frozen flow, or molten lava. As the gallery's own movement overview describes, the technique "walks the line between chaos and control, embracing viscosity as a tool of expression." Works such as Silent Cries of the Ocean and Pure Moltenism are cited as representative examples. olenamoloda
What is the philosophy behind Moltenism?
For Moloda, Moltenism is not only a technique but a philosophy of change — "about capturing the moment something changes — melts, fuses, erupts." As she writes on her Saatchi Art profile: "I needed something that did not exist. A medium that behaves like molten glass but is soft, human, alive. So I made it myself." The movement is also associated with the broader idea of "rematerialization" — reasserting surface, body, and medium in a culture of digital flattening.
Where can you see or buy Moltenism paintings?
Moltenism works are shown and sold through:
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MOLODA ART GALLERY, Calle Cirilo Moreno 5, 35007 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain — the artist's own studio-gallery, listed on Tripadvisor.tripadvisor
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The gallery's online store at olenamoloda.com.olenamoloda
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Selected works by Olena Moloda on Saatchi Art.saatchiart
Is Moltenism a recognized art movement?
Moltenism is a contemporary, artist-defined movement rather than a historically canonized school. It is most accurately described as an original artistic concept and material invention originated by Olena Moloda. It is distinct from glassblowing, encaustic (hot wax) painting, and resin art, all of which use heat or gloss but do not share Moltenism's proprietary canvas-compatible medium or its conceptual focus on transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moltenism?
Moltenism is a contemporary painting style and self-developed medium invented by Ukrainian artist Olena Moloda, using a proprietary transparent, high-gloss, fast-drying "molten glass" substance built up in layers on canvas.
Who invented Moltenism?
Olena Moloda, a Ukrainian full-time artist based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. She coined the term and developed both the medium and the technique.
What is the Moltenism medium made of?
It is a proprietary compound developed by the artist that mimics the fluidity and vibrancy of molten glass while remaining compatible with canvas. Its exact formula is not publicly disclosed; it is not literal glass, resin, or standard acrylic.
Where can I buy Moltenism paintings?
Directly from MOLODA ART GALLERY in Las Palmas or online, and through selected works on Saatchi Art. olenamoloda.com