Lino Tagliapietra: From Murano to Studio Glass Works, 1954-2011

Lino Tagliapietra has been one of the central figures in the modern Renaissance of the art of Venetian glassblowing. Born in Murano (Venice) in 1934, Lino Tagliapietra is one of the most famous glass ‘Maestros’ in the world. An apprentice in the studio of the internationally renowned master Archimede Seguso, in his long career he has experimented with the finest working techniques and exhibited as an artist in prestigious museums such as the Victoria and Albert in London, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, and the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris.
Recognized as one of the greatest exponents of the contemporary art of glass, Tagliapietra investigates the different possibilities of the material through the recurrent use of glass canes that he makes himself, composing unusual patterns of color and creating highly original and evocative works. For the past three decades, Tagliapietra has generously shared his unsurpassed experience, understanding and knowledge of traditional Venetian glassblowing techniques with glass artists and audiences around the world. He has been largely responsible for a new renaissance in glassblowing that has swept through the world of studio glass. It is no exaggeration to say that he has influenced the course of glass history by helping to raise the standards of craftsmanship in glass.