On 1 April, an opening ceremony and academic event marks the launch of Glasstress: The Modern Art Revolution in Venice at the Tsinghua University Art Museum (TAM), setting the stage for a compelling exploration of glass as a contemporary artistic medium.
Glass has long been intertwined with the development of human civilization. Its transformation through heat and form has not only defined its craft but also established it as a powerful medium for aesthetic, symbolic, and conceptual expression. From ancient objects to contemporary installations, glass continues to reflect both technical mastery and evolving artistic thought.
At the heart of this exhibition is the legacy of Berengo Studio, which has played a pivotal role in preserving the centuries-old glassmaking traditions of Murano, Venice, while fostering innovative collaborations with contemporary artists. Since 2009, the “Glasstress” exhibition series, presented as a collateral event of the Venice Biennale, has grown into a significant international platform where glass and fine art intersect.
Building on this foundation, Glasstress: The Modern Art Revolution in Venice brings the exhibition to China for the first time, re-examining the trajectory of modern art through the lens of glass. The exhibition highlights how the medium has been integrated into contemporary artistic discourse, generating new visual languages through experimentation, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and cultural exchange.
Featuring 56 artists from over 20 countries and more than 60 works, the exhibition unfolds across four thematic sections: The Language of Matter, The Estranged Commonplaces, The Narratives of Identity, and The Renaissance of the Past. Together, these sections reveal the remarkable versatility of glass and its expanding role within contemporary art.
Now open at TAM’s First Floor Exhibition Hall, the exhibition offers audiences in China a fresh perspective on glass, not merely as a material, but as a dynamic medium shaping the future of modern artistic expression.
📍 Tsinghua University Art Museum, First Floor
📅 April 1 – May 5, 2026
⚡️Now open to the public
For more information head to the museum’s website here.
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