A world reference
It is one of the most famous workshops in Biot. In 40 years, the Pierini Glass Art Center has become a reference, receiving artists in residency from all over the world.
The Pierini Glass Art Center opened its doors in Biot in 1980 under the leadership of Francine and Robert Pierini. Robert Pierini saw the potential of this magical place from the beginning. With his wife Francine, a well-known environmentalist in the South of France, they decided to give new life to this 15th century oil mill. The reins were taken over in 2000 by Antoine and Gaëlle Pierini, who developed and reoriented its activities. A transmission that has not changed the daily life of this solid family, which shares and communicates a passion for the art of glass. Thus Robert still works alongside his son Antoine and visiting glass artists in the workshop.
The Center is now managed by Antoine Pierini, an internationally renowned artist, and his wife Gaëlle Pierini, who continue to develop it. Their desire is to make the general public and art lovers discover the different forms of expression around this fabulous material that is glass. Thus, sculptures of contemporary art will rub shoulders with conceptual works, installations or decorative art objects.
When working with glass, each gesture is precise, it requires an intense physical and mental effort, like a dancer or a musician, the gestures must be perfect. This feat is the fruit of years of work, of repetition in order to achieve excellence, harmony between the body, mind and soul of the artist.
Inside this building, listed on the 1813 Napoleonic cadastral plan and registered with Bâtiments de France, one can admire the period stonework dating from the 15th century as well as the millstone of this former olive oil mill, located exactly in its original position. The gallery has a total exhibition space of 220 m2 on two floors and faces the workshop where the artists work with the material. Outside, a patio and a courtyard of 80 m2 also serve as a stage for the works that play with natural light.
In this laboratory of experimentation, the creative process takes shape little by little around the artist and his team.
The Pierini Glass Art Center is proud to represent contemporary glass artists coming from all horizons and with very different artistic signatures. This diversity in the artistic offer is the reflection of a will that this place be a reference for the collectors and the artists wishing to be present on the French and European market. In 2020, the center represented 14 glass artists, some of them were present throughout the year (permanent artists) and others during residencies (resident artists). They came from France, the United States, the Czech Republic, Canada…
In 2022, the center will begin a partnership with the most prestigious glass school in the world, the Pilchuck Glass School, in Seattle (USA), to offer a residency to an emerging artist. The idea is to help young talents to express themselves and to offer them more visibility to launch their career.
The pedagogical dimension is indeed one of the priorities of the Pierini Glass Art Center which has the wish to transmit a know-how, to bring knowledge with a living teaching adapted to each one.
Antoine Pierini travels to different workshops around the world to teach his techniques and share his passion and creations with students. With an educational objective, the Centre d’Art du Verre has for example set up exchanges with the Hilltop Artist program in Tacoma (USA) to welcome aspiring glass artists. Every year, the Center welcomes young Americans who must perfect their hot and cold glass techniques.
Pierini Glass Art Center
9, chemin de Plan, 06410 Biot
Tel: +33 (0) 93 65 01 15 – Pierini.fr
Photos @YannSavalleApril2021
