Davide Salvadore

Born in 1953 in Murano, Italy, Davide Salvadore is an 11th generation Murano glassworker. The first of this lineage were the Rosetto brothers whose works dated to 1721 for a Piedmontese princess. According to the family history, each generation of the Rossettos have been nicknamed "Trippa”, the Italian word for tripe, which was and is the favorite breakfast for this family of glassblowers.

At a young age, Salvadore began following his grandfather, Antonio Mantoan, into the furnaces of Murano, first learning how to build the kilns and later working in the studios of Alfredo Barbini, who is often recognized as the ultimate glassmaker of Murano. Later, he worked as a glassblower in multiple well-known glass studios, learning from each and improving his abilities. In 1978 he began producing lamp-worked beads in his mother, Anna Mantoan's jewelry studio, which she sold to Yves St. Laurent and other couture houses as well as to African merchants.

With his mother's encouragement, Salvadore developed his own personal style of making lamp-worked beads, and these beads are still featured as part of his sculptural pieces today;  a tribute to his mother's talent and support. In 1987, he opened his own studio, Campagnol & Salvadore, where he continued doing lampwork and further developed his glassblowing expertise and talent.

In 1997, Salvadore became one of the founding members of "Centro Studio Vetro" in Murano, a non-profit cultural association whose purpose is to cultivate and promote the culture of glass art in Italy and abroad. Centro Studio Vetro published the international “Vetro” four times annually with distribution reaching 10,000 subscribers but in 2003 this organization disbanded. In 1998, Salvadore made a conscious decision to turn away from traditional functional glass work. At approximately the same time, he began demonstrating his unique murrine technique at Corning Museum of Glass, Pilchuck Glass School, Pratt Fine Art Center, and others in the United States.  It was then that he was introduced to the American Studio Glass movement, of which Salvadore embraced and became an active part.

It was then that he was introduced to the American Studio Glass movement, of which Salvadore embraced and became an active part. As a result of his ingenuity and the inventiveness of his creations, Salvadore's glass design immediately became noteworthy. His style combines traditional Italian techniques and elements in innovative ways in his personal body of work. His pieces reflect diverse influences, such as African tribal imagery, Muranese roads, and the smokestacks of glass farms.

In 2012, Salvadore founded his own studio, Salvadore SRL, where he continues to work today with his two sons, Marco and Mattia.

Salvadore is represented by Sandra Ainsley Gallery, located in Toronto, the leading contemporary glass art gallery in Canada. He also extended his experience during this time by demonstrating his unique murrine technique at the Corning Museum of Glass, Pilchuck Glass School, Pratt Fine Art Center, and others in the United States.

When reflecting on how his artwork is to be received by his audience, Salvadore stated:

“I encourage my audience to have a real encounter with each piece. I want them to touch, caress it and understand the shapes and movements. Simply, I want the enthusiast to experience what I feel for my art passion and love.”