Angelo Fico's Artist Biography @ Seekers Glass Gallery

angelo fico

Seekers Glass Gallery presents the work of Angelo Fico, whose original designs in glass are distinguished by classic Venetian techniques using cane and murrini. The artist strays from the traditional by his use of fresh color combinations and clean shapes.

Fico’s Venetian Series of bud vases, perfume vials, mini vases and mini pitchers are recognizable by their delicate latticinio and candy cane swirls of color. Latticinio is the technique of twisting small rods of colored glass with clear to form a lattice like pattern. Forming latticinio takes much practice and is difficult for even very skilled glassblowers to execute.

The artist received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign. Although his degree was in Plant Biology, he became fascinated with glassblowing and did Graduate Studies at the University of Illinois School of Arts.

Fico worked as an assistant glassblower for several studios, and even became “a wandering glassblower in Australia!” for six months. The artist has studied glassblowing with Master Glassblower Lino Tagliapietra at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME; and received a scholarship from the University of Illinois to study at the Pilchuck School of Glass, Stanwood, WA under Dante Marioni. In 1996, the artist established his own studio, Angelo’s Glassblowing.

Fico states, “The first day I tried glassblowing, I knew that was what I wanted to do. Craftsmanship has always been very important to me. I just want to make nice stuff!” The artist’s work has been exhibited at major galleries, museums and juried exhibitions throughout the United States.