Alessandro Mandruzzato

Tadert Titbirine

Glass sculptor

Walking the line of excellence

Alessandro is fascinated by the fragile nature of glass
He works with artists, architects and designers of international standing
He comes from a long line of glassblowers

Alessandro Mandruzzato began working with glass at the age of 15. As a young boy, he became aware that he was continuing a family tradition, handed down from one generation to the next. His father had worked on projects by Picasso, Chagall and Ernst. Alessandro honed his skills in the delicate process of cold-carving Murano crystal, going on to forge a career in grinding and engraving. His flat, polished surfaces, geometric shapes and minimal design with elegant, sinuous details bear his unmistakable hallmark. As a sculptor, Alessandro mixes glass with wood, stainless steel and a variety of precious metals that bring a contemporary touch to his pieces. He has exhibited his works in major galleries and museums, and in 2012 he was awarded the Globo Tricolore prize representing Italian excellence in the world.

Where

Interview

How would you describe your relationship with Murano?: I think that anyone who is born, grows up and lives on Murano has a bond with the island and is full of pride for its rich artistic and craft heritage. Murano poses challenges and opportunities in preserving traditions and renewal in the art of glassmaking.
Do you have any childhood memories linked to glass?: Even though children were not allowed to be around fire, diamond wheels or drills, I was intrigued by them from an early age. I loved watching the craftsmen and members of my family create breathtakingly beautiful pieces from the finest Murano glass.
Can you name some unforgettable moments along your path?: Being the first Italian of the new millennium to exhibit at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, with my work Diva; being the only Italian to participate in the Glass Art Symposium in Alexandria, Egypt, with my work Embrace; and the pleased look on my father's face when I made Anghelos, the largest Murano glass angel in the world.
What does it mean to carry on a tradition as important as Mandruzzato's?: For me it is about respecting my family’s traditional techniques, and continuing the same designs my grandfather Luigi and father Gianfranco used, while altering the production methods to achieve higher quality through innovation.

Alessandro Mandruzzato is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1985