Lino Tagliapietra
Currents of Light
Traver Gallery is honored to present Currents of Light, the first major gallery exhibition of work by Maestro Lino Tagliapietra since his retirement and the closing of his Seattle Studio. Traver Gallery is now the home for the most significant works from Lino‘s American studio collection. Presented in the gallery’s new waterfront space along Seattle’s ship canal, Currents of Light celebrates the shared spirit between Murano’s canals and the Pacific Northwest’s maritime waterways. This new setting offers a quiet resonance: an affinity between two cities shaped by water, and their rich and evolving history of glass.
Tagliapietra‘s forms, colors, and surface techniques draw on a lifetime of travel, experimentation, and reflection. His pursuit of perfection within his craft is unparalleled, but his astonishing ability to capture rare beauty in his sculptures truly sets him apart. His vessels echo the places that have shaped his life: Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Interpreted through glass with precision and lyricism, Lino‘s sculptures range from the architectural to the poetical.
Each piece in this exhibition was personally selected with care by Bill Traver and Sarah Traver, whose deep knowledge of Lino‘s work spans decades. As longtime friends and gallery representatives, the Travers have been part of Lino‘s story since his earliest visits to the U.S. to teach at Pilchuck Glass School, giving him his first solo exhibition at the gallery and championing his work ever since. The Travers’ insight and enduring connection to Tagliapietra bring a rare depth to this presentation, one shaped by history, friendship, and a shared belief in the transformative qualities of glass and art.
Few artists have left such a lasting imprint on their medium. Tagliapietra has redefined what is possible in glass as a maker, teacher, and visionary. We are proud to continue this legacy with his upcoming exhibition, Currents of Light.
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About
Lino Tagliapietra - view profile
Lino Tagliapietra was born on Murano, a Venetian island which has served as the world’s glass capital for the past millennium. At the age of twelve, the artist apprenticed with Archimede Seguso. Training for glassblowers on Murano is traditionally structured, rigorous and slow; yet, within this system, Tagliapietra was a prodigy. After nine years of assisting, he achieved the title of maestro. Subsequently, he worked at several of Murano’s greatest factories: Galliano Ferro, Venini, Effetre International, and La Murrina (which he founded).
A significant shift in the Studio Glass Movement began in 1979 when Tagliapietra accepted Benjamin Moore’s invitation to teach at Pilchuck Glass School. There, he established many enduring professional contacts and continuing relationships with students. The importance of his teaching to the development of glass as an artistic medium cannot be overstated.
Tagliapietra was the recipient of the prestigious Rakow Commission granted in 1996 by the Corning Museum of Glass, The Glass Art Society Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2004 Visionary Award from the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. His work has been exhibited throughout Europe, Asia, and North America and is included in numerous prominent public collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, New York; The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York; The Danish Royal Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark; The Jewish Museum in San Francisco, California; Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France, and Museo del Vidrio in Monterrey, Mexico.