Venice Exhibition Chronicles the Fusion of Contemporary Art and Murano Glassmaking

A new exhibition opening at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice presents the story of the Fucina degli Angeli, a gallery that united contemporary artists with Murano’s traditional glassmakers. Curated by art historian Cristina Beltrami, the show runs from 14 November 2026 to 29 March 2027, showcasing over 100 works including glass pieces, paintings, sculptures, and archival materials.

The Fucina degli Angeli was founded in the 1950s by a figure who played a key role in bridging the gap between international artists and Murano’s master glassblowers. Unlike traditional glass furnaces such as Venini, which produced decorative glassware often in large commercial series, this gallery focused on experimental collaborations that translated artworks into glass.

Three years after initiating this approach, the founder established the Fucina degli Angeli gallery to exhibit the outcomes of these artistic experiments. From the 1950s until the 1970s, the gallery was a pioneering force in Venice’s glass evolution, facilitating the work of more than 100 international artists alongside Murano’s craftsmen.

The exhibition is arranged across 11 rooms, organised by artist and theme, and includes glass interpretations of works by notable figures such as Max Ernst, Oskar Kokoschka, Lucio Fontana, and Paul Jenkins. It also features archival materials that have not been extensively studied before, offering fresh insights into this unique artistic collaboration.

Behind the scenes, the exhibition highlights the important but little-documented role of Peggy Guggenheim. Her acquisitions helped sustain the gallery financially, and her connections enabled the Fucina’s works to be exhibited across Europe and even at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

The gallery’s name, “Fucina degli Angeli” (smithy of the angels), was suggested by French writer and artist Jean Cocteau, a close collaborator who also designed mythological heads for the gallery and engaged directly with the glassmakers. Austrian Expressionist Oskar Kokoschka contributed a sketch of two angels holding an anvil, dedicated to the gallery’s founder, reflecting the deep artistic ties fostered by the Fucina.

This exhibition offers a comprehensive look at a distinctive chapter in Venice’s artistic heritage, where the fusion of contemporary art and traditional glassmaking created innovative works that continue to inspire.