Dale Chihuly Guitar Unique Hand Blown Polyvitro Glass Custom Created for Paul Allen

Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Custom Glass Guitar
Medium: Sugar Polyvitro Material Sculpture
Size: 38.5" x 12" x 2"
Year: 2000
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

In 2000, Dale Chihuly designed two custom "glass" guitars, actually made of a unique sugar polyvitro material. The material was specifically created to safely contain the shatter effect when the guitar was broke, which is exactly what Paul Allen did to one of the guitars at the opening of the Experience Music Project (EMP) at the Frank Gehry building in Seattle. This second guitar is the only one still intact.

Dale Chihuly's career has been a never-ending exploration. He has pioneered new shapes, new techniques, and new methods of color application. While a glass guitar may seem like a departure from the glass vessels and chandelier he is best known for, the quest for innovation is emblematic of Chihuly's lifetime journey of innovation.

This verion of Dale Chihuly's custom glass polyvitro guitar measures 38.5" x 12" x 2" and features a violet body with a chartreuse neck. Purchase includes a certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact.

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly, widely regarded as one of the foremost contemporary glass artists globally, is celebrated for his monumental sculptures and awe-inspiring installations. His name is synonymous with artistic brilliance, prominently displayed in iconic locations such as the Bellagio's flower garden in Las Vegas and the Rotunda Chandelier at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Today, Dale Chihuly's glass works are coveted collectibles among devotees of decorative arts.

Despite an initial indifference toward formal education, Chihuly dedicated considerable time to schooling, earning both scientific and artistic degrees in sculpture from prestigious graduate institutions. While he demonstrated early interests in interior design and craft, his true passion has always been glass. As a Fulbright Fellow in the late 1960s and an apprentice at the Venini Glass Factory in Venice, Chihuly honed his skills in Murano glasswork, playing a pivotal role in revitalizing the ancient art of glassblowing on an international stage.

Chihuly's monumental and small-scale artworks grace over 200 of the most renowned decorative art collections today, and he holds an impressive twelve honorary doctorates. His illustrious series, spanning several decades, includes the Cylinders and Baskets from the 1970s, Macchia, Venetians, and Persians from the 1980s, Niijima Floats and Chandeliers from the 1990s, and the more recent Fiori series from the 2000s.

For over three decades, Chihuly has served as the artistic director of his team of craftsmen, a role he assumed after two accidents left him blind in one eye and unable to hold the blowing tube. This shift provided him with a broader perspective on the possibilities of glasswork while retaining his distinctive style, marking an extraordinary chapter in his enduring artistic journey.