James Vella

James Vella was born in Denver, Colorado and graduated from Hastings College in Nebraska where his undergraduate degree was in education and studio painting. As a graduate student James discovered glass and it has been his medium for over fifteen years. His work has been featured in galleries across the country and internationally. James’s artwork is also included in several private collections and is in the permanent collection of the Knoxville Museum of Art. As the owner of Vella Vetro Art Glass Studio in New Orleans, Louisiana he pursues a balance both finically and creatively between custom work and the construction of fine art to operate his studio for over six years. In addition to an exhibition history, James has been on staff at
Pilchuck Glass School for many years and has been an instructor at various glass studios and institutions across the county as well as in Germany, Canada and Turkey. James’s latest exhibition, Prunk and Prost at Eisch Glaskultur, works were excuted during the Artists in Residence program at the Eisch Factory in Frauenau Germany.

At Vella Vetro, the focus is on fine art and experimentation with glass. This has led to the fabrication of unique and unexpected sculptures out of glass. Vella Vetro works closely with many designers across the country fabricating large glass installations for public and commercial spaces, as well as individual unique sculptures for the interior.