Renato Foti
Ontario, Canada
painter turned glass sculptor
“My minimalistic and geometric designs are inspired by the complexity of life.”
Renato, the man of glass …
Renato, who started as a painter, found discovered glass sculture during his travels. He loves the permancy of glass, the complexity and how it refracts light. He focuses on fused and slumped glass wall sculptures. He says the segments of glass he uses are very simple, yet together, he creates more complex chain of color segments that form a strong sense of balance and harmony.
“The quality of handmade glass can be seen in the fine bubbles and textures which appear in each piece. “
At what age did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Pretty young, but seriously would be during university for my fine arts degree. Though I began my career as a painter, after an introduction to glass as a sculptural material in 1992, casting became my primary means of expression.
Which classical or contemporary artists have inspired you?
The minimalist movement, guys like Dan Flavin at an early age, using light.
How would you describe your artistic style?
I would describe my style as Bold & colourful. My current work focuses on fused and slumped glass wall sculptures and other sculptural pieces. My large-scale wall creations are composed of fused glass made out of a variety of color segments, forming a strong sense of balance and harmony. The segments alone are very simple, yet together, they form a more complex chain that fit naturally together.
What's your workstyle? Do you work on one piece at a time or work simultaneously on multiple pieces?
My workstyle is geometric, & clean.
How do you get the inspiration for a new piece?
I get inspiration from design and complexity in life.
Tell us a bit about your life ...
I received a BFA from the University of Western Ontario and furthered my craft at Urban Glass in New York, Penland School of Crafts, and Pilchuck Glass School. Throughout my career, I have taken an active role in a variety of art organizations, most recently serving on the board of directors for the Ontario Craft Council.
A few pieces of Renato’s Glasswork
Retro Mesh in Black and White
Organic Bowl
Why they love Renato’s Glasswork
Pushing fused glass to new limits in terms of size and complexity.
Renato’s extraordinary glassware combines his love of the material with superb functionality and craftsmanship. Each piece of glass is hand cut, fused, ground, and slumped. By using top-of-the-line art glass, vibrant colors, and precise firing conditions.