I discovered the breathtaking mirror glass of Michael Panetta at the recent Beverly Hills Arts Show. His work is beyond stunning, and his use of color is absolutely spot on. The subtlety of his tones, especially when paired with complimentary works, completely resonated with my sensibilities. If I weren’t paying for a wedding in Venice Italy this fall, I would have bought one of his pieces.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about meeting him at the art show, was his willingness to discuss his mirroring technique. It sounded very complicated, but the end result is smooth and intoxicating like a fine wine. He was also a bit apologetic that he didn’t have more work to show me, because he’d sold so much over the course of the weekend. Nothing could make me happier than to hear that others were appreciating is art, as much as I was.
Michael is based in Laguna Beach, California. His trajectory through the world of blown glass began when he was 6 years old at the Sawdust Festival of Laguna Beach. His interest in glass was further piqued when he visited the famed glass blowing island of Murano, Italy. After local glass apprenticeships in California, Michael returned to Murano for specialized training under renowned glass blower Pino Signoretto. Now his work can be found in galleries and art shows up and down the west coast.
This youtube video will let you witness firsthand how he creates is mirroring technique.