Narcissus Quagliata (b. 1942) studied painting and graphics under Giorgio de Chirico in Rome and completed his fine arts studies at the Art Institute of San Francisco. Very early on, he discovered glass as the most suitable material with which to express himself artistically, focussing in particular on the phenomenon of light and its interplay with coloured glass. His interest in how art can transform the human image in the public and private sphere is central to his work. Furthermore, in cooperation with industry, Quagliata experimented at an early stage with the development of new forms and applications of glass.