Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Cranberry Red Ikebana with Turquoise Stems
Medium: Original Acrylic on Paper
Size: 41.5" x 29.75"
Year: ca. 1995-2005
Inscription: Signed "Chihuly" on lower front
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Vibrant, expressive, and unmistakably Chihuly, "Cranberry Red Ikebana with Turquoise Stems" captures the dynamic energy of Dale Chihuly's celebrated Ikebana series through bold color and gestural mark-making. Executed in acrylic on paper, this original painting channels the spirit of Chihuly's glass installations while standing on its own as a powerful two-dimensional work of art.
The composition features a rich cranberry red vessel at its core, surrounded by an explosion of sweeping, curvilinear turquoise stems that extend outward with a sense of movement and spontaneity. The bold use of contrasting colors—intense red and electric turquoise—creates a dramatic visual impact, emphasizing Chihuly's intuitive understanding of color theory and his flair for theatrical composition. These qualities are not only central to his paintings, but also mirror the drama and vibrancy of his glass sculptures.
Chihuly's Ikebana series takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, reimagining its principles through a contemporary and highly personal lens. In this painting, the floral elements are abstracted and energized, existing in a space where nature meets invention. The gestural brushwork and layered pigments reflect Chihuly's desire to capture motion and emotion rather than literal form.
Signed prominently on the lower front, the work is accompanied by a Gallery Certificate of Authenticity and exemplifies Chihuly's multidisciplinary mastery. For collectors and admirers alike, "Cranberry Red Ikebana with Turquoise Stems" offers a rare and compelling look at the painterly dimension of one of the most innovative artists of our time.
About Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly, born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, is widely recognized as the most influential figure in contemporary glass art. His early life in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by water and natural beauty, would later inspire the organic and fluid forms that define his work. Initially studying interior design at the University of Washington, Chihuly discovered a passion for glass during his undergraduate studies and went on to pursue an M.S. in sculpture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, followed by an M.F.A. at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). His interest in glass was deepened by a Fulbright Fellowship in 1968, which took him to Murano, Italy, where he learned the traditional Venetian glassblowing techniques that would shape his collaborative approach to artmaking.
Chihuly's career took off in the 1970s, as he began to push the boundaries of what glass could do. Rather than focusing on function or utility, he embraced glass as a sculptural medium, creating works that were organic, abstract, and expressive. He began working in series, such as the Seaforms, inspired by underwater life; the vibrant and painterly Macchia; and the dramatically swirling Persians. His Chandeliers, composed of hundreds of individual glass elements suspended in space, redefined the possibilities of installation art and became some of his most iconic works.
A car accident in 1976 left Chihuly blind in one eye, and a later shoulder injury made it impossible for him to continue blowing glass himself. Rather than retreating from his practice, Chihuly embraced a model of collaboration, directing teams of artisans to execute his vision on an increasingly ambitious scale. This allowed him to work larger and more experimentally, with a focus on color, movement, and the way light interacts with form.
Over the decades, Chihuly's work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions around the world and installed in unexpected public places, from botanical gardens to hotel lobbies. His projects are immersive and often monumental, drawing millions of viewers and redefining the role of glass in contemporary art. Through his boundless imagination, bold use of color, and commitment to innovation, Dale Chihuly has not only transformed the medium of glass but also reshaped how we experience sculpture itself.