'Endeavor', 2000

Born in Murano, Italy, Lino Tagliapietra (b. 1934) is best known for exporting Venetian glassmaking methods to America, thus influencing the development of the trade on American soil. At the young age of six, the artist first witnessed glassmaking on the island of Murano, and began his career at just eleven years old. He completed an apprenticeship under master glassmaker Archimide Seguso, and earned the title of maestro vetraio at the age of twenty-one. Tagliapietra worked at renowned glass factories Venini and Effetre on his native Murano; he then met Dale Chihuly, who in 1979 invited him to teach at his Pilchuck Glass School in Washington state. Through his teaching, Tagliapietra made American audiences aware of Venetian glass traditions, which would change the landscape of the craft for years to come. Tagliapietra is known for his complex glass works showcasing luminous colors and patterns, as well as Venetian influences. He utilizes primarily free-blowing techniques rather than a mold, creating unexpected forms with eclectic shapes. For example, attenuated necks define his Dinosaur and Angel Tear works, while his Avventurina Fenice includes metal shavings and molten glass, and serves as an homage to a Venetian theater. Through cane working, he incorporates murrine into his pieces, which create dazzling patterns and give the works a unique look and feel. His Aquilone and Chiocciola are indicative of this – Aquilone bears oval murrine which reflect multiple dimensions of light and color, while Chiocciola betrays repeating spirals on a bulbous form, creating a striking visual appeal. Tagliapietra’s Endeavor (2000) incorporates red and white murrine with a wheel carved exterior, and the asymmetrical sculpture tapers off unevenly on each end.

Tagliapietra is represented in over fifty international museum collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; The Corning Museum of Glass; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. After a long and fruitful career spanning seventy-six years, the artist retired in July 2021.