Thomas Stearns at Venini

The autumn exhibition at le stanze del vetro, curated by Marino Barovier, will focus on the American artist Thomas Stearns, who collaborated with the Venini glassworks in the early 1960s.
After an initial period during which Stearns familiarised himself with local techniques, he started to create works of an extremely original character and unusual for Murano. Various series of glass pieces came into being, designed as an artistic impression of a sculptural kind, characterised by asymmetric and organic shapes and unusual glass techniques, rooted in the material of glass itself and with singular colour schemes. For the 31st Venice Biennale in 1962, Venini chose to exhibit works by Tobia Scarpa and six pieces by the American artist, which
won great praise from the judging panel. His most celebrated pieces include Cappello del Doge (The Doge’s Hat), and Facciate di Venezia (Venice Façades). The gold medal was proposed for these works but in the event could only be awarded to an Italian artist. Stearns was also interested in cold finishing techniques and in the lighting sector, which he developed in both artistic and technical terms.