Angel Tear 2010

Lino Tagliapietra made this incredible glass sculpture, 'Angel Tear' using traditional Venetian glassblowing techniques. The way the colors spiral and merge reminds me of paint mixing in a jar, but here, the material is molten glass. Look closely and you can see how the artist layered the colors, like winding threads, to create the teardrop shape. The glass is translucent, allowing light to pass through, intensifying the colors. The texture appears smooth, almost like silk, but it’s glass, a solid form. It's a testament to the artist's control and expertise. The way Tagliapietra coaxes the glass into these delicate forms makes me think of the glass work of Dale Chihuly, another master of the medium. With both, the possibilities of glass seem endless, each piece a testament to the artists' skill and vision.