Lino Tagliapietra at work in the studio.
GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet: What are you working on?
Lino Tagliapietra: Right now, I’m making many small pieces using Aventurine, a historic Venetian glass. I’ve found a source for some good quality Aventurine, it’s very beautiful, and I’m using it to make small pieces inspired by Greek and Islamic shapes. You can say there’s a strong feeling of Mediterranean culture.
I’ve been interested in Aventurine for a long time, but the problem in the past was that I can’t find good Aventurine. I had finally found some good quality but then that factory closed. Now I have found some good Aventurine again, and I like it. It’s very nice for me to make small pieces, and I like the effect of a big panel of forms influenced by Islamic and Greek culture.
Some of the new Aventurine glass forms Lino is currently working on for a new installation referencing the history of Murano glassmaking.
Another project, one I’m starting next week is to explore with Bullseye glass, I’m trying their technology. I’ve tried something earlier, they have very beautiful colors, and I might repeat this. It won’t be strictly blowing, but mixed media using blowing, fusing, something like a roll-up is possible, but not exactly.
GLASS: What artwork have you experienced recently that has moved you, and got you thinking about your own work?
Lino: I take the inspiration from a lot of things. From talking with people, seeing the work of somebody else, for me it is all very important. At the moment, the person I admire very much is Dante Marioni, working with him in the studio, I find that inspiring. Of course, Dante is a wonderful guy with a lot of energy. I also admire Dick Marquis very much.
This 2010 Lino Tagliapietra Aventurine installation was sold during SOFA CHICAGO.
But when you ask about inspiration, I’m very interested lately in the feeling of Japanese and Chinese objects. Whenever I am in New York City, I spend as much time as I can at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, especially the Asian and African sections, these are a very big inspiration for me. The museum is always a big inspiration for me and for my work, because for me, the past is very important. You could say that lately I am thinking more about history.
GLASS: Where is it possible to see your work?
Lino: Heller Gallery in New York has some very nice work of mine they will be bringing to SOFA New York, and also at their gallery. My exhibition in Venice will be open until May 22nd, and it has gone very well. I have some nice work at Schantz Galleries, and I will have a show at Bill Traver in June. I have a lot of projects.
Detail from Tagliapietra's 2010 Aventurine installation showing the small glass forms inspired by Greek and Islamic shapes.
My show in Venice really surprised me. I don’t think in the past that people in Venice cared so much about what I did. The show is for me unbelievable because it drew so many people, so many visitors. At the opening, I never saw one show so crowded like this. It was impossible to move. The room is big, but there were people in the street. There still are a lot of people, many people coming back. They come from the countryside, from Bologna, the south of Italy, a lot of people from France. This show has been huge surprise.