Dale Chihuly Unique Red Seaform with Black Lip Wrap 1994 Signed Handblown Glass Sculpture

Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Red Seaform with Black Lip Wrap
Medium: Hand Blown Glass Sculpture
Size: 11.5" x 7.5" x 6.5"
Inscription: Signed and dated Chihuly 1994
Year: 1994
Documentation: Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

Dale Chihuly's "Red Seaform with Black Lip Wrap" exemplifies the artist's sustained engagement with organic form, chromatic intensity, and the expressive potential of blown glass. Created in 1994, the work belongs to Chihuly's celebrated Seaform series, a body of work inspired by marine life, shells, and the undulating rhythms of the natural world. Rather than literal representation, these sculptures evoke biological structures through gesture, translucency, and layered color, positioning glass as both a sculptural and painterly medium.

The composition is defined by a broad, open form whose ruffled contours suggest a shell or aquatic organism unfurling in space. Radiating bands of saturated red and warm amber flow inward toward the center, creating a sense of movement and depth that is heightened by the material's inherent luminosity. The black lip wrap along the rim serves as a visual anchor, crisply outlining the irregular edge while reinforcing the tension between control and spontaneity that characterizes Chihuly's working process. Variations in thickness and curvature reveal the physicality of the glassblowing process and underscore the role of gravity, heat, and breath in shaping the final form.

Seaform works emerged during a period when Chihuly increasingly emphasized collaboration and scale while continuing to push the technical and aesthetic boundaries of studio glass. Examples from this series are held in major museum collections and have been exhibited internationally, reflecting their significance within the broader narrative of late twentieth century American glass. Importantly, works such as "Red Seaform with Black Lip Wrap" represent unique sculptural objects rather than editioned productions. This piece is not part of any Portland Press or Chihuly Workshop edition, underscoring its singular status within the artist's oeuvre.

"Red Seaform with Black Lip Wrap" is a unique, hand blown glass sculpture measuring 11 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches. The work is signed and dated "Chihuly 1994", confirming its year of creation and authorship. It is accompanied by a gallery certificate of authenticity, documenting its provenance and affirming its position as an original, non editioned work.

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly occupies a singular position in contemporary art history as an artist who expanded the expressive and institutional possibilities of glass on a global scale. Born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly emerged during a period when glass was largely excluded from mainstream fine art discourse. Through technical innovation, ambitious scale, and a commitment to collaborative production, he reshaped perceptions of the medium and secured its place within major museum and academic contexts.

Chihuly's academic background reflects a synthesis of design, craft, and fine art disciplines. He studied at the University of Washington, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the Rhode Island School of Design, where he later established one of the first glass programs in the United States. His Fulbright Fellowship to Murano introduced him to the Venetian tradition of team-based glassblowing, reinforcing a production model that would become central to his practice. Rather than emphasizing individual craftsmanship, Chihuly positioned himself as a conceptual leader, directing teams to realize increasingly complex works.

A significant shift occurred following a 1976 accident that resulted in partial vision loss, prompting Chihuly to fully embrace a studio-director role. This transition coincided with the development of the large-scale series for which he is best known. Works from the Persians, Macchia, Seaforms, and Chandelier series exemplify his distinctive visual language—characterized by vibrant color palettes, layered surfaces, and forms inspired by botanical and marine life. These works are often presented as immersive installations that engage architecture, light, and space.

Parallel to his glass production, Chihuly has maintained a prolific practice in works on paper. These paintings and drawings are notable for their immediacy and expressive use of color, functioning as autonomous artworks that extend his exploration of form beyond three-dimensional media.

Throughout his career, Chihuly has achieved widespread international recognition, with exhibitions at leading museums and public venues and works held in major collections worldwide. His contributions have not only transformed glass as an artistic medium but have also influenced broader conversations around collaboration, scale, and the boundaries of contemporary sculpture.