To celebrate the winter holiday season and the end of the year, Galleria Abscondita is collaborating with Arcade to present a pop-up show dedicated to the Murano glass brand. From December 10th 2024 to January 6th 2025, an anthological selection of limited-edition Murano glass vases designed and signed by Ivan Baj and Laura Diaz de Santillana will be on display at the gallery on Via della Scrofa 114, Rome.

All these vases are handcrafted and free-blown without the use of molds, respecting the centuries-old tradition of Murano glassmaking.
The event carries forward the gallery’s commitment to exploring contemporary applied arts, particularly Murano glass, and responds to the public’s desire to purchase not only unique collectible pieces but also high-end, decorative objects for everyday use.

On this occasion, we are pleased to announce that Galleria Abscondita will represent the Arcade brand and its complete catalog in Rome, Italy. So, contact us for any further information as a private buyer or as a professional.

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Arcade is a brand founded by Ivan Baj, a glass artist who began his career as a ceramist at Rosenthal and Ginori in the 1970s. Inspired by his friendship with Anna Venini and Laura de Santillana, Baj later devoted himself to Murano glass, founding the Arcade brand in 1990. He created collections of glass objects in collaboration with international artists and designers.

His work is driven by the poetic suggestions of a playful and imaginative spirit, expressed through a variety of organic, versatile forms that evoke unique journeys and personal encounters. His creations are featured in numerous private and public collections, including: Museo del Vetro, Murano; Grassi Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Leipzig; and Museo d’Arte Moderna, Lissone. Baj’s works have also been exhibited at renowned institutions such as: Musée d’Orsay, Paris; Palazzo Morando, Milan; Palazzo Franchetti and Palazzo Loredan, Venice (during various Venice Glass Week events); Triennale Museum, Milan.

Laura Diaz de Santillana (1955–2019) was a contemporary glass artist who studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York before returning to work at Venini, the glass company founded by her grandfather, Paolo Venini.

Her works are characterized by a minimalist approach to form and color and are part of the collections of: Museo del Vetro, Murano; Corning Museum of Glass, Corning; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.