Vetro: An exhibition of contemporary studio glass, exploring the Venetian Influence

Opening to coincide with the start of London Design Festival, from 12th September until 18th October premier hot glass studio and gallery, London Glassblowing will present one of their most enlightening and fascinating exhibitions to date.

15 artists, including some of the finest glassmakers in the UK today, are challenged to produce outstanding new works that explore contemporary interpretations of traditional Italian techniques. Some techniques date back to the golden age of 15th Century Venetian glassblowing, others to Roman times.

VETRO not only celebrates the outstanding vision, skill and precision of the traditional Italian glassmakers but also explores how their exquisite techniques have been reinvented for new generations in the hands of our most innovative contemporary glassmakers.

In addition to showcasing remarkable new work from London Glassblowing founder, Peter Layton and his highly accomplished team, VETRO will highlight the work of internationally renowned glass artists, including Scott Benefield one of the world’s leading exponents of Venetian glassmaking methods, Simon Moore, Edmond Byrnes, and Liam Reeves. VETRO also features German jeweller, Marion Sterner, who resides and works in Venice.

Scott Benefield is one of the world’s leading exponents of Venetian glassmaking methods, In Lattimo: Compositions he explores traditional cane techniques developed in Renaissance Venice five centuries ago. Rods of lattimo glass are arranged to form intricate patterns, employing the traditional murrine technique.

Like Benefield, Liam Reeves explores pivotal techniques from glassblowing’s two millennia of rich history, skilfully blending ancient Roman and Renaissance Venetian techniques, such as filigrana a reticello, with the finesse of factory glass and the precision of digital media. His unique glass forms take inspiration from the past, yet are wholly contemporary.

Layne Rowe has produced a stunning collection, inventing entirely new ways of approaching cane work, with multiple overlays of colour and reverse cutting. (quote)

Intrigued by objects that have a resonance from the past, Edmond Byrne uses mould blown glass, an ancient technique dating from classical times. Textile moulds dipped in slip-clay create the textured surface. After blowing the mould, Byrnes then adds patina and cracks to the surface to recreate the weathering of ancient Roman glass,

Once design director at Salviati in Murano, Simon Moore’s work for VETRO will demonstrate Venetian cold work techniques including Battuto and Sabbiato, ‘so often the unsung hero of so much work’, says Moore. Three pieces from his ‘Falcon de Venice’ series will also be exhibited.

A visit to VETRO at London Glassblowing this Autumn promises a rare glimpse into the past history of the remarkable art of studio glass of the finest, state of the art glass artists of our times. Don’t miss it!