Venice Exhibition Chronicles the Collaboration Between Contemporary Artists and Murano’s Master Glassblowers

A new exhibition opening at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice presents the story of the Fucina degli Angeli gallery and its founder, who played a crucial role in bridging contemporary art and Murano’s master glassblowers. Running from November 14, 2026, to March 29, 2027, the show is curated by art historian Cristina Beltrami and features more than 100 works, including glass pieces, paintings, and sculptures.

The gallery, established three years after an initial experimental collaboration, became a hub for over 100 international artists to work with Murano’s glassmakers. This approach differed from traditional furnaces like Venini, which produced decorative glassware often in large, commercially driven series despite involving international designers. Instead, the Fucina degli Angeli focused on unique artistic interpretations and collaborations.

The exhibition is arranged in 11 rooms, each organised by artist and theme, showcasing glass translations of works by notable figures such as Max Ernst, Oskar Kokoschka, Lucio Fontana, and Paul Jenkins. Archival materials from the Fucina, previously unexplored in depth, are also on display, offering insight into the gallery’s innovative practices and artistic network.

Behind the scenes, Peggy Guggenheim played a vital role in supporting the gallery financially through her purchases and facilitating exhibitions across Europe and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The gallery’s name, “Fucina degli Angeli” (smithy of the angels), was suggested by French writer and artist Jean Cocteau, a close collaborator who contributed designs and engaged directly with the glassmakers.

The Austrian Expressionist Oskar Kokoschka also contributed an emblematic sketch dedicated to the gallery and its founder, highlighting the fascination with Murano glass. Both Cocteau and German sculptor Jean Arp were drawn to the vibrant colours and richness of the glass medium, which the exhibition explores in detail.

This exhibition sheds light on a unique chapter in Venice’s artistic heritage, illustrating how traditional craftsmanship and contemporary creativity merged to produce innovative glass artworks during a transformative period in the mid-20th century.