Joseph Gregory Rossano, Tusk, 2024, Silver and Glass, 37" x 5" dia
Joseph Gregory Rossano, b. 1962, American, is a multidisciplinary artist, environmentalist and outdoorsman. His work explores themes of natural history, extinction, taxonomy and conservation in the genres of assemblage and installation art. Rossano is known for manufacturing environments incorporating, wood, photography, technology and glass. Through the creation of collectives, including artists, scholars, scientists and industry, Rossano presents contemporary histories, revealing human interaction with species throughout recorded time.
Rossano's engagement with the glass medium dates back to the 1980s. Between 1988 and 1989, the artist apprenticed with artist William Morris, assisting in the execution of works from the series Early Artifacts, Standing Stones, Stone Vessels, and River Rocks. Between 1991-1996, Rossano assisted Italo Scanga and Richard Royal on the execution of collaborative glass pieces, as well as Italian glass maestri del vetro Lino Tagliapietra and Pino Signoretto. From 1991-1997, Rossano served as Special Projects and Glass Studio Manager for artist Dale Chihuly, managing 30 Chihuly Studio artists and successfully spearheading the international sensation Chihuly Over Venice, during which 14 monumental Chandeliers sculptures by Dale Chihuly were installed in the campos and canals of the city of Venice.
Rossano's work is included in many permanent collections such as the Everhart Museum, Scranton, Pennsylvania; the Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington; the Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, Washington; the San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, California; and the Racine Art Museum; Racine, Wisconsin.
