Lino Tagliapietra was born in 1934 in Murano, Italy and became an apprentice glassblower at age 11. Even at a young age Lino exhibited an immense dexterity for glass and was appointed the title of “Maestro”, an honor reserved for only the best glassblowers, when he was just 21 years old. In 1979, Lino visited Seattle for the first time and introduced students at the Pilchuck School to the long tradition of Venetian glassblowing. This cross-cultural collaboration helped shape the identity of American glass blowing and offered Lino an opportunity to expand his horizons internationally. Now in his 80s, with over 70 years of experience, the Maestro splits his time between Murano and Seattle. He continues to exercise his prodigious technical skill and creative experimentation, producing works that both inspire and amaze. The artist’s Seattle studio, the epicentre of Lino’s artworks in the Pacific Northwest, underwent a renovation in 2017 and is now a gallery housing a selection of these incredible creations.