Dale Chihuly Four Piece Ultramarine Seaform Set Handblown Glass

Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Ultramarine Four Piece Seaform Set with Cobalt Turquoise Lip Wraps
Medium: Hand Blown Glass
Largest Element: 4.25" x 12" x 8"
2nd Element: 3.25" x 7.75" x 7.25"
3rd Element: 2" x 4.5" x 4.75"
4th Element: 1" x 3" x 3"
Year: C. 1986
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity and a certified third party appraisal from Foss Appraisal Service.

Dale Chihuly's "Ultramarine Four Piece Seaform Set with Cobalt Turquoise Lip Wraps" reflects the artist's mastery of glass as a sculptural medium and his ongoing fascination with the forms and rhythms of the natural world. Created through Chihuly's signature process of freehand glassblowing, the work is composed of four distinct yet interconnected vessels that rest within and around each other in a graceful composition. Each piece is unique in contour and scale, yet together they create a unified, organic whole that evokes the sensation of motion and buoyancy found in the sea.

The ultramarine color is deep and saturated, shifting subtly as light passes through the thin glass walls. This rich blue is enhanced by the cobalt turquoise lip wraps if the smallest, central element, allowing it to be the focal point.

The Seaform series, developed in the early 1980s, represents an important period in Chihuly's exploration of organic structure and visual harmony. By allowing gravity, air, and heat to shape each element, Chihuly achieved a balance between control and spontaneity that became central to his artistic language. In Ultramarine Four Piece Seaform Set, that balance is visible in every curve and fold of glass. The work captures Chihuly's ability to transform molten material into something that feels both fragile and enduring, presenting a study in color, light, and natural form that continues to define his influence in contemporary art.

Dale Chihuly's Ultramarine Four Piece Seaform Set is accompanied by a gallery certificate of authenticity and a certified third party appraisal from Foss Appraisal Service.

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly is an American artist widely recognized for revolutionizing the field of contemporary glass art through his innovative use of color, form, and scale. Born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1941, Chihuly has played a central role in transforming glass from a craft material into a legitimate fine art medium. His pioneering approach to glassblowing—often involving complex team collaborations—has redefined both the technical and conceptual possibilities of glass sculpture.

Chihuly studied interior design and architecture at the University of Washington before earning an M.F.A. in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he later founded the school's glass program. In the late 1960s, he received a Fulbright Fellowship to work at the Venini glass factory in Murano, Italy. There, Chihuly absorbed the traditions of Venetian glassmaking and the team-based methods that would later become foundational to his own practice. Upon returning to the United States, he co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington, in 1971, an institution that has since become a global center for contemporary glass art.

Chihuly's art is characterized by its vibrant color, organic form, and monumental scale. His series—including Seaforms, Baskets, Persians, Ikebana, and Chandeliers—explore the expressive potential of molten glass through sculptural abstraction. By combining traditional glassblowing techniques with experimental methods, he achieves fluid, asymmetrical compositions that evoke natural phenomena such as water, flora, and light. The large-scale installations of his Chandeliers and Macchia series exemplify his ability to transform architectural spaces into immersive environments of color and motion.

Throughout his career, Chihuly's work has been exhibited internationally and is held in major museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Permanent installations of his work can be found in renowned institutions such as the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Dale Chihuly's influence extends beyond his own studio practice. Through his leadership at Pilchuck and his advocacy for glass as a sculptural medium, he has shaped generations of artists working in glass and beyond. His distinctive fusion of art, design, and architecture continues to define him as one of the most significant figures in the history of contemporary art and glassmaking.