Afro Celotto

Afro Celotto was born in Venice, on Burano island, on August 24, 1963. Much quieter and less crowded than other Venetian islands, Burano is quite colorful; houses facades there, were painted with brilliant colors cause fishermens desire to identify their own houses from far out at sea. In his childhood, surrounded by colors, Afro developed an unique sensibility, that joined with his innate artistic sense, took him to the artist’s world.
He started working with glass when he was only 14 years old, apprenticing with the legendary Lino Tagliapietra. Since these early years Afro has been producing some of the world’s most beautiful artistic glass, becoming recognized by collectors for his technical ability and artistic expression. After many years at “Effetre International”, Afro took his skills to “La Murrina” as “First Master”. There he specialized in two of the oldest techniques: filigrana and murrine. Four years later, Afro returned to “Effetre International”, after being asked to replace Lino Tagliapietra, who had moved to the United States to open his own studio.
For many years, Afro worked within the old tradition, where great glass masters executed the designs of others. In year 2000, Afro opened his own studio where he started creating brand new art pieces following his own inspiration and establishing his own style. Around 2004 his artworks, the result of a combination of classical techniques and modern colorful shapes, became famous and requested by collectors and galleries all over the world. He collaborated even with the great Pino Signoretto, famous master for sculptures in “heavy glass”, member of the “Dale Chihuly Team”.
At the beginning of 2010, according with Nicola Foccardi, already Ceo of Linea Murano Art (ex Linea Mazzuccato), a famous glass company in Murano, Afro have started a new adventure founding a new company, Art Glass Studio, that is taking him beyond new frontiers of colors and shapes.