Martin Blank was born in 1962. He received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island in 1984, majoring in glass. After graduating, Blank travelled to the West Coast to work with master glass artist Dale Chihuly. He had his first solo exhibition in 1995. In 2004, he received a commission to create a 50-foot female nude in glass which was installed in the lobby of the La Salle building in Chicago. He was also commissioned to create an award for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2001. Blank was one of five glass artists invited to make presentations for public art to be installed at the new World Trade Center Building in New York City.