Tony Cragg's Glass Sculptures at Negozio Olivetti in Venice

Tony Cragg (born 1949, Liverpool) presents 'Tony Cragg. Le forme del Vetro' at the historic Negozio Olivetti in Piazza San Marco, Venice, organized by FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano in collaboration with Fondazione Berengo. Curated by Cristina Beltrami and Jean Blanchaert, the exhibition focuses on Cragg's long-term exploration of glass's fluidity and transparency. A new glass sculpture dedicated to Carlo Scarpa was created with master glassmakers from Studio Berengo, referencing Scarpa's architecture and 1960s Italian design. Cragg, a self-described materialist, emphasizes the internal structure of materials over surface appearance. He discusses his use of black glass for the first time in years, creating organ-like forms bound together, reminiscent of a transparent anatomical model. Cragg has worked with Berengo's furnace since 2009, drawn to the natural dimension of the Venetian lagoon and its mountains. He criticizes mass tourism in Venice but values the city's commercial history and off-season atmosphere. The exhibition runs at Negozio Olivetti, a space designed by Carlo Scarpa.