Dale Chihuly Larkspur Blue Seaform Set Sold Out Portland Press Signed Edition

Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Larkspur Blue Seaform Set
Medium: Hand Blown Glass
Dimensions:
- Largest element measures 6" x 11.5" x 8"
- Smaller element measures 4.5" x 9.25" x 7"
Inscription: Etched on bottom "Chihuly PP00"
Date: 2000
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

The "Larkspur Blue Seaform Set" by Dale Chihuly is a refined example of his celebrated Seaform vocabulary and his command of molten glass as a sculptural medium. The set consists of two handblown glass forms rendered in a soft, translucent larkspur blue that recalls the shifting tones of deep ocean water. Their gently undulating silhouettes suggest marine life, shells, or natural currents, emphasizing Chihuly's longstanding interest in organic movement and fluid abstraction.

Contrasting the cool blue bodies, each form is finished with vivid marigold lip wraps that encircle the openings with energetic, rhythmic accents. These warm, glowing edges introduce a dynamic tension between color and form, enhancing the sense of depth and surface complexity. The interplay between the luminous blue glass and the fiery yellow-orange rims underscores Chihuly's sensitivity to chromatic relationships and his ability to push glass into painterly territory.

The result is a visually immersive composition that reflects the artist's fascination with natural systems and environmental forms. Both intimate and sculptural, the set embodies the essential qualities of the Seaform series—transparency, motion, and biomorphic elegance—making it a compelling example of Chihuly's studio practice and a strong addition to a serious glass collection.

The underside bears the inscription "Chihuly PP 00", identifying it as a 2000 Portland Press edition. Purchase includes a gallery certificate of authenticity.

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary glass, known for transforming the medium into large-scale sculptural installations and immersive environments. His work spans intimate blown glass objects to monumental architectural commissions, including major installations such as the ceiling work at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and the Rotunda Chandelier at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Chihuly's career began with formal training in interior design and sculpture, eventually leading him to study glass in depth at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later the Rhode Island School of Design, where he also became a key educator and founder of its glass program. A Fulbright Fellowship brought him to the Venini glass factory in Venice in the late 1960s, where he absorbed traditional Murano techniques that would profoundly influence his approach to the material.

Over the course of his career, Chihuly has developed several major bodies of work, including Cylinders and Baskets from the 1970s, Macchia, Venetians, and Persians in the 1980s, Niijima Floats and Chandeliers in the 1990s, and the Fiori series in the 2000s. His practice is defined by bold color, organic form, and a constant exploration of scale and space.

Following a serious automobile accident that left him blind in one eye and unable to physically blow glass, Chihuly transitioned to a leadership role within his studio. As artistic director, he guides a team of skilled glassblowers who execute his vision, allowing him to expand the possibilities of his work while maintaining its distinctive aesthetic language.

Today, Chihuly's work is held in more than 200 museum and institutional collections worldwide, and he has received numerous honors, including multiple honorary doctorates. His legacy is closely tied to the revitalization of studio glass as a major contemporary art form and its elevation within the broader field of modern sculpture.