The historic glassmaker appoints Marco Piva as Art Director

Marco Piva is the new Art Director at Venini with the aim of redefining the company’s product-focused creative path, starting from the study of its historic and cultural archival heritage. The Milanese architect and designer is particularly interested in the ability of an object to intercept the aesthetic and functional “expectations” of users and, consequently, in the reaction that such an object is able to elicit in them. Bringing this attitude into play, he will concretely work on enhancing the brand’s allure, interpreting it and capturing the attention of the brand’s enthusiasts and collectors.

With his long-standing experience and professionalism, Marco Piva will also devote particular attention and energy to engaging and developing the brand in the luxury contract world with hotels, restaurants and exclusive residences with the opportunity of hosting Venini products and installations. Studio Marco Piva, with major offices in Milan and Shanghai, where about a hundred architects work, has carried out important projects in Italy and abroad.

Marco Piva talks proudly about his new role as art director of the Furnace: “It is a great satisfaction to be a part of a prestigious company of the calibre of Venini, rooted in Murano’s traditional art of glassmaking but with a keen eye to the future. The brand has collaborated with artists and designers such as Carlo Scarpa and Gio Ponti, who have made the history of design in the last century, and it is a privilege for me to work to contribute to its ongoing success.”

Silvia Damiani, President of Venini, has said: “I’m really excited about this new collaboration. Not only does Marco Piva have an extraordinary creative experience, but he has also taken part in prestigious projects on an international scale. His figure is important on the Italian and foreign cultural scene. Marco Piva will project Venini towards an even more cosmopolitan dimension.”

For more than a century, the best master glassmakers and artists have come together in VENINI, creating a history of excellence and innovation. VENINI preserves and interprets a unique artistic heritage, creating unmistakable works that combine traditional know-how with contemporary aesthetics. VENINI’s creations converge into Art Glass, with sculptural vases and interior décor objects, and into Art Light, with lighting installations that stylishly decorate large spaces, both private and public, such as the Milan Triennale and the Murano Glass Museum, the MET and the MOMA in New York, the Cartier Foundation, the Georges-Pompidou Centre in Paris, alongside others.

Founded in 1921 by the Milanese lawyer Paolo Venini and by the Venetian antiquarian Cappellin Giacomo, VENINI is known the world over for the artistic and cultural excellence of its creations. Since it was founded, its master glassmakers have always been the beating heart, memory and strength of the company: in the world of glass, there are no schools, just teachings that are handed down through the generations with words, gestures and movements. One of VENINI’s distinguishing marks is its prestigious colour palette, made up of over 125 fascinating and refined hues resulting from research studies and reflections, tests and exploration of new blends.

In 2016, the historic company was taken over by the DAMIANI Group, also at the head of the international brand of high quality jewelry of the same name, which defined a series of development plans aimed at enhancing this outstanding example of all-Italian excellence at an international level.

VENINI