Meet the Artist – Silvio Vigliaturo

We are honoured that contemporary Italian master Silvio Vigliaturo has long been a feature in the Collier & Dobson portfolio of both sculpture and original art.

His vibrant pieces are technically highly sophisticated, in terms of glass making and brushwork, whilst satirical and witty in nature, which together create a strong visual impact.

Born in Acri, Calabria in 1949, Silvio later moved to Chieri near Turin when he was 13, where he lives and works to this day.

When he was just 16, he completed a traditional apprenticeship at a local glass works, and it was here that his artistic journey began to flourish, as he was instructed by Luigi Bertagna (a former pupil of Italian painter Giacomo Grosso) and Eduardo Ferrero in the art of drawing and painting, respectively.

He began exhibiting his work in 1977, but it was in 1986 when a major revelation in his creative exploration was piqued, as he experienced the work of famous Futurist, Cubist and Expressionist artists Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, and Miro at the Futurismo e Futurism exhibition in Venice. The influence of these masters in his own work is evident, and especially so in the vivid colours and
Cubist style elements of glass sculpture Arlecchino e L'amante, and in the Primitivist characteristics of original painting Amanti Distanti.

Silvio is known as a 'glass maestro' by many for good reason. His technique is characterised by a substantial attention to research and experimentation, employing a variety of media over the years including paint, steel, terra cotta and glass. His current sculpture collection is a beautifully bold and
colourful example of expert Murano glassmaking.

Murano, Italy, is possibly one of the most recognised centres for art glass in the world. The legendary process involves employing a ‘lampworking’ technique, and introduction of other raw materials to produce various effects (read more about this process in our article How are Glass Sculptures Made?).

The focus of Silvio's sculpture and original paintings follow themes of classical fables, satirical jokes, musical evocations and dream-like images. Along with his unique vision and expressive style, this makes for a mesmerizing and spirited body of work, which captures the eye, and spursthe viewer to look deeper into each piece.

He seeks to fuse the antiquity of traditional mark making and glass work with contemporary ideas and expressions, to generate an aesthetic which reflects his distinctive ideology of remaining tied to tradition whilst simultaneously projecting views of the present and future.

His work has been labelled as Homo Faber, a concept which believes that human beings are able to control their destiny and influence their environment as a result of the use of tools, in artistic terms, employing a process of interpretation, craftsmanship, creativity, their symbiosis and constant evolution.

Silvio's continually evolving artistic style and the colourful richness of his work have won him much acclaim. In 2006 his work was chosen by the city of Turin as the sole artistic endorsement of the XX Winter Olympics; he was named testimonial by the University of Calabria, Italy, in 2008; participated in the 2011 international contemporary art exhibition Italian Pavilion of the 54th Venice
Biennale; and in the Contemporary Glass Sculpture Exhibition, held at the Orlando Museum of Art, in 2013, to celebrate the first 50 years of Studio Glass.

There is also a long list of permanent public collections around the world (including China, Italy, Germany, Spain and the USA) that exhibit Silvio's dynamic work, such as the Biblioteca Nacionale, Madrid, MACA-Museo civico d’Arte Contemporanea Silvio Vigliaturo, Acri (a museum dedicated by
the municipality of Acri to the artist, to host a large permanent collection of his work), and the Glass Museum Alterfhof Herding, Ernsting.

In his recent years, he has held many exhibitions and open days, including a pivotal solo exhibition at the Regional Museum of Natural Science, Turin, in 2013; and in 2022 opened his studio doors for the XVII Day of Contemporary Art in Turin, an event supported by the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture, and the Directorate General for the Promotion of the Country System of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Regarding the event he said, "The inspiration comes from working because I find myself in the ideal place, myshop, where I live and breathe […] I'l be waiting for you"

Head over to our online gallery to browse through our selection of exemplary glass sculpture and striking original paintings by Italian master Silvio Vigliaturo. Or pay us a visit in our Fordingbridge gallery to view the stunning pieces in all their glory.