Lino Tagliapietra

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.