Dante Marioni
Glassblower
Seattle, WA, USA
The exaggerated glass silhouette
- Dante works with ancient Venetian glassblowing
- He enjoys the physical element of working with glass
- His pieces reimagine classical forms with exaggerated proportions
Dante Marioni crafts elongated, brightly coloured blown glass interpretations of ancient Greek and Etruscan vessels. “Art runs deep in my family. I grew up surrounded by painters, glassblowers and conceptual artists,” he says. Today, Dante's pieces play with scale and feature unique surface treatments such as murrine and reticello, made with ancient glassblowing techniques. He developed his craft by observing and training with esteemed mentors, such as Venetian master glassblower Lino Tagliapietra. In 1987, Dante gained major recognition with an exhibition of his monumental Whopper vases in Seattle, Washington, and received the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award. His work is held in international collections, including the White House Collection of American Crafts, and the Corning Museum of Glass.
INTERVIEW
Their legacy in art was inescapable: I fell in love with glassblowing as a teenager. My father took me to the Pilchuck Glass School when I was 15, and it changed my life. I was completely committed to the craft before high school was over.
I love Murano's tradition, history and craftsmanship. I particularly enjoy works from the 1920s onwards, a period when external designers collaborated with some of the greatest glassblowers. The techniques, developed and evolved by the Muranese over hundreds of years, allow for the creation of anything imaginable.
Inspiration comes from all over, including designers from Murano, nature and the decorative arts in general. I also find inspiration in the creative process itself. Often, while making one piece, I discover ideas for future objects or series.
Find someone you admire who is better than you are and learn from them. Remember that everyone starts somewhere: humility goes a long way, especially in the early stages. I strongly recommend studying at the Pilchuck Glass School for the unparalleled experience it offers. Finally, no matter how committed you are, having a plan B is a rare luxury worth considering.
Dante Marioni
Glassblower
Seattle, WA, USA
ADDRESS
Address upon request, Seattle, WA, USA
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+1 2065876501
LANGUAGES
English
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