David Gappa combines a mind for space and detail with an artist’s passionate creativity. An architect by training, he discovered the art of glassblowing while studying at The University of Texas at Arlington. He honed his craft by studying with masters around the globe and founded Vetro Glassblowing Studio in 1999, located in historic Grapevine, Texas. Gappa specializes in one-of-a-kind glass art, sculptures, chandeliers and custom designs for residential and commercial properties, including Center for BrainHealth, Gaylord Texan Resort, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, and Winstar World Casino.

A native Texan, born in Fort Hood and raised in Fort Worth, David Gappa discovered and embraced his love of art from a very early age, spending countless hours exploring his creative talents and honing his skills in numerous artistic mediums … painting, sculpting, sketching and drawing to name just a few. As a young adult, he spent over a year in Europe studying these various mediums of art, architecture and familiarizing himself with the art of glassblowing in Murano, Italy.

Gappa earned a Masters of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating Salutatorian of his class. During his studies at UT, he embarked on his passion for glassblowing while assisting with the founding of the university’s glassblowing program and participating in the glassblowing elective for two years. Thus began his vision of opening Vetro Glassblowing Studio, which came to fruition in May of 1999. Since then, Gappa has continued learning through intense workshops, conventions, traveling artisans, private study, and directly from the masters themselves including Martin Janecky, Ross Richmond, Afro Celotto of Italy, and Kenji Ito of Japan. It is through his continuous studies, the building of relationships with artists, the exploration of design, the growth and development of his team, the creation of his art, and the presentation of that art to the public that Gappa strives to serve others. It seems that the closer he comes to achieving this calling, the more there is to accomplish.