Cesare Toffolo is a Glass Master born in Murano in 1961 and grew up in a family of Glass Masters.
His Grandfather Giacomo, was a Master Glassblower in the Venini Furnace. He taught his son Florino (Cesare’s father) the techniques that made him also a Master Glassblower at Venini by the age of 17. Florino then specialized in flameworking blown glass, getting the acceptance of the most traditional people of Murano. Cesare often visited his father’s studio, and learned lampworking at 14.
Cesare Toffolo
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He lost his father three years later, but continued perfecting the technique on his own. He reached the same credibility that Florino enjoyed in Murano. In addition, Cesare developed many flameworking techniques with borosilicate glass never tried before. Some of these are the use of filigree and gold leaf.
He collaborated with the most prestigious glass establishments in Murano and with international famous designers. He was 21 when he exhibited at the Palazzo Ca’ Vendramin Calergi in Venice.
At the age of 30, in 1991, Cesare was invited to teach at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle. This was followed by other courses there, and at the Niijima Glass Art Center in Tokyo, The Studio of Corning Museum of Glass, the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, the Toyama Glass Art Institute, and the Kanazu Forest of Creation Foundation in Japan.
He’s been invited to demonstrate his lampworking skills in Tokyo at the Glass Art Institute and at the Glass House Institute, at CERFAV in France at the Symposium European of Glass, and in various Glass Art Society Conference.
Cesare is one of the top glass artists in Murano. He is the founder of Centro Studio Vetro, a non-profit cultural association in Murano born in 1997 that promoted Glass Art in Italy and abroad. He also created the glass magazine Vetro published by C.S.V. From 2001 to 2003 he coordinated as Artistic Director the first Glass Workshops in the Venice lagoon, exactly in S. Servolo Island.
In 2018 Cesare joined the Glass Art Society Board and coordinated, as Chairman of the Muranese Committee, the event G.A.S. Conference 2018 in Murano. In the same year he published two volumes, the title is: Il Vetro a Lume – Lampworking. In his atelier, located in an ancient palace in fondamenta dei Vetrai in Murano, he is now joined by his sons Emanuel and Elia. Toffolo has exhibited with Chesterfield Gallery in New York through exhibitions at the gallery as well as The Salon Art + Design, SOFA Expo Chicago, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Currently, Toffolo continues to create his works with skill and inventiveness, which, for decades have continued to be exhibited in museums, galleries and private collections all over the world.
He collaborated with the most prestigious glass establishments in Murano and with international famous designers. He was 21 when he exhibited at the Palazzo Ca’ Vendramin Calergi in Venice.
At the age of 30, in 1991, Cesare was invited to teach at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle. This was followed by other courses there, and at the Niijima Glass Art Center in Tokyo, The Studio of Corning Museum of Glass, the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, the Toyama Glass Art Institute, and the Kanazu Forest of Creation Foundation in Japan.
He’s been invited to demonstrate his lampworking skills in Tokyo at the Glass Art Institute and at the Glass House Institute, at CERFAV in France at the Symposium European of Glass, and in various Glass Art Society Conference.
Cesare is one of the top glass artists in Murano. He is the founder of Centro Studio Vetro, a non-profit cultural association in Murano born in 1997 that promoted Glass Art in Italy and abroad. He also created the glass magazine Vetro published by C.S.V. From 2001 to 2003 he coordinated as Artistic Director the first Glass Workshops in the Venice lagoon, exactly in S. Servolo Island.
In 2018 Cesare joined the Glass Art Society Board and coordinated, as Chairman of the Muranese Committee, the event G.A.S. Conference 2018 in Murano. In the same year he published two volumes, the title is: Il Vetro a Lume – Lampworking. In his atelier, located in an ancient palace in fondamenta dei Vetrai in Murano, he is now joined by his sons Emanuel and Elia. Toffolo has exhibited with Chesterfield Gallery in New York through exhibitions at the gallery as well as The Salon Art + Design, SOFA Expo Chicago, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Currently, Toffolo continues to create his works with skill and inventiveness, which, for decades have continued to be exhibited in museums, galleries and private collections all over the world.
Selected Exhibitions
C.V.
Select Exhibitions
2026 “Use Me, I’m Fragile” – The Future Perfect, New York, NY