“Tapio Wirkkala at Venini” and “Toni Zuccheri at Venini” are two side-by-side exhibitions at LE STANZE DEL VETRO, curated by Marino Barovier and dedicated to two artists and designers who were active at the furnace in the 1960s. They both contributed, with their strong personalities, to the character of the production of the glassworks. In those transformational years, Venini was able on the one hand to present new models without giving up the use of colour, and on the other to respond to the new minimalist requirements in the world of design.

The first aspect was developed in particular by Toni Zuccheri, to whom we owe the extraordinary series of fowl and farmyard animals, which were soon joined by vases in bright colours with organic lines, inspired by the plant kingdom.

From 1966 the furnace also entered in a collaboration with Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, who brought his experience with glass at the Iittala glassworks to Venice by combining Nordic culture with Murano craft, achieving remarkable results.

Toni Zuccheri at Venini catalogue

Tapio Wirkkala at Venini catalogue