LONDON.- Mallett announces Glass Ambition, the first UK exhibition of world-renowned Lino Tagliapietra, the 80-year-old Venetian master glass blower. The exhibition features new works by the artist, showcased at Ely House between 26 May and 4 July 2015.

Tagliapietra is the most ambitious and influential glassmaker of his generation. His vessels push the boundaries of traditional glass with monumental, new forms and spectacular colours. Each piece is unique in number and personal to the maestro, who only works using the blowing canes he makes and the glass colours he creates. Tagliapietra lives on the island of Murano with his family and travels twice a year to Seattle, where he has access to studios and ovens large enough to blow his immense masterpieces.

This extraordinary exhibition reconnects Mallett with its historical interest in glass. For many years, Mallett had a highly respected glass department led by John P Smith, who wrote numerous publications, including the definitive book on English chandeliers. Tagliapietra’s glass embodies the three essential qualities Mallett seeks: sophisticated design, timeless material and technical prowess. Mallett also welcomes Lino Tagliapietra into its close circle of major contemporary designers and artists, which includes Willy Rizzo, Barber Osgerby and Harry Benson.

Tagliapietra was born in 1934 in Murano, and the age of just twelve he became apprentice to the renowned Archimede Seguso. He patiently learned the techniques and secrets of Venetian glass, before becoming a Maestro himself in his early twenties. During his 60-year career, Tagliapietra has made the transition from the leading Venetian factories, to become a teacher at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle (from 1979), and has become the exceptional artist he is today. He is now the beloved patriarch of all glass artists, with the popular Dale Chihuly crowning him “the greatest glassblower there ever was”.

Tagliapietra is the only foreign living artist to have had a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery in Washington DC (2009). His work has been exhibited at international institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Victoria & Albert Museum, London and the Tokyo National Modern Art Museum.