By Rachel Gallaher
Photographed by Benjamin Benschneider
When it comes to blown glass in the Pacific Northwest, Dale Chihuly often gets all the props. But his contemporary, Venetian glass artist Lino Tagliapietra, has been quietly working in Seattle for more than 30 years, turning out masterful work ranging from swooping sculptures and vessels to large-scale panels and installations. He creates large glass-fused panels that resemble paintings of significant size and small, intricate aventurine pieces that are as equally detailed as they are mesmerizing. Considered a master glass craftsman by his early 20s (he had been working with the material since age 11), Tagliapietra has been the subject of dozens of international exhibitions.
Earlier this year, the artist opened a new showroom in Seattle’s Belltown in a former auction house. Designed by Graham Baba Architects and built by Dovetail General Contractors, the 6,600-square-foot space features white oak flooring, custom blackened-steel tables and stands, and a 45-foot-long light monitor that allows Tagliapietra’s whimsical suspended pieces to hover above gallerygoers.