Andrea Salvagno
Anfora
Glassblower
Venice, Italy
A passion rooted in Murano
- Andrea's functional and sculptural glass pieces feature textured surfaces
- Collaborating with other artisans pushes him out of his comfort zone
- He is fascinated be the lifecycle of glass witnessed during creation
Andrea Salvagno makes contemporary glass pieces that honour Murano's heritage. At just 16 years old, he fell in love with Murano glass during an apprenticeship at one of the island's iconic glass studios. “I am still as passionate about Murano glass and glassblowing as I was when I first started my practice,” he says. Over the years, Andrea refined his skills in a wide range of traditional glassmaking techniques at various workshops. From his atelier Anfora, he creates both functional objects and sculptural works of art. “Only by working directly with molten glass can its true nature be understood,” he says. Andrea continues to collaborate with internationally acclaimed artists such as Ai Weiwei, Tony Cragg and Albert Van Acker.
INTERVIEW
The most fascinating part of glassmaking is the evolution of the material. It is incredible to guide a piece through its entire lifecycle, from the initial sketch on paper, through the fluid and dynamic liquid stage, to the final solid object.
A glassmaker should be patient, adaptable and resilient, driven by a deep sense of passion, dedication and a willingness to make sacrifices. We work with a living material, so we must be able to anticipate how the glass will react and adapt instantly when things do not go as planned.
Tradition is the foundation. You need to master traditional techniques and then, through experimentation, apply them to the present day by exploring new shapes, colours and processes.
There is never just one way to look at a material. Working with other artists pushes me completely out of my comfort zone. It helps me realise the full extent of my skills in bringing complex products to life.
Andrea Salvagno
Anfora
Glassblower
Venice, Italy
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
Italian
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