Narcissus Quagliata was born in Rome, Italy in 1942 where he studied painting with Giorgio De Chirico. At the age of 20, Narcissus moved to the United States and studied at the San Francisco Art Institute receiving both a Bachelors and a Masters degree. Soon after graduation, he began working in glass and continues to use it as his principle form of artistic expression.
Narcissus Quagliata has received twice grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for his work in the U.S. Presently, his main residence is in Mexico, but he also works in the United States and Europe. Among other commissions, he is preparing a permanent installation in the Museum of Light in Mexico City. He is currently designing a set of doors for the Basilica of Santa Maria of the Angels in Rome, a building designed by Michelangelo within 3rd century Roman Baths. Mr. Quagliata is also arranging gallery museum exhibits for various locations internationally.
Narcissus's work is included in many private, corporate and museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, The Renwick Gallery in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC, the Modern Art Museum in Yokohama, Japan, and the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City.
(from the artist's website)
