Dale Chihuly Original Dakota Macchia Contemporary Glass Art

Dale Chihuly - Dakota Macchia
Portland Press Studio Edition
2008
Handblown glass
Approx. 9" in height
Signed: PP Chihuly 08, to the underside
Excellent condition, please request a condition report for full details
Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

Born in 1981, “Macchia” is one of Dale Chihuly’s most celebrated series of glassworks. Conceived from the idea to use all 300 colors in his studio, the series evolved into one with the longest standing. Named after an Italian word for “spot”, “Macchia” represents an extraordinary spectacle of colored glass effects and contrasts.

To Dale Chihuly, glass-blowing is a natural way of creating, an extension of human breath and a manifestation of pure thought. Pushed by breath and subject to the physical forces of Earth, the glass would move and gain shape. During the process, Chihuly would add pieces of different colors and “Macchia” works would get their characteristic speckles from colored glass shards.

Innovative at the time, this method of glass decoration resulted in a series of pieces with distinctive coloristic qualities, where the inner part of the vessel contrasts the outer shell, separated by a white glass layer in between. What gave “Macchia” a special flare are daring, clashing color contrasts in combination with asymmetrical features and diverse translucency, opacity and transparency. All “Macchia” pieces share an amazing, ethereal chromatic value.

An outstanding example of the series, “Dakota Macchia” presents a marvel of color. Splendid oceanic blue speckled with lemon forms the outer shape of the vessel, revealing a deep fuschia inside. The brilliant sunny yellow lip seals the edge, inviting the observer to look inside for the small, translucent blue portions that allow the dance of light to enter the belly of the work. Strong and sassy, the “Dakota Macchia” displays a powerful fusion of hues, alluding to the hidden wonders of the natural world, climbing from the sparkling aquatic treasures to the brightest sunset pinks.

“Dakota Macchia” is approximately nine inches high, hand blown and signed by Dale Chihuly as a part of the Portland Press Edition.

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About Dale Chihuly

One of the most famous contemporary glass artists in the world, Dale Chihuly is best known for his monumental sculptures and installations. He is the name behind the spectacular ceiling at the Bellagio’s flower garden in Las Vegas and the creator of the Rotunda Chandelier at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Glasswork of Dale Chihuly is considered one of the most desired collectibles between the decorative arts devotees today.

Despite his initial indifference towards education, Chihuly has spent a lot of time in school, obtaining both scientific and artistic degrees in sculpture from prestigious graduate schools. He displayed a proclivity for interior design and craft early on, but his true passion was always in the glass. He was a Fulbright Fellow in the late 1960s and an apprentice at the Venini Glass Factory in Venice. Mastering the art of Murano glasswork, he continued the experiments with glassblowing and thus became one of the people who brought the ancient art of glassblowing back into the spotlight on an international scale.

Monumental and small-scale artwork of Dale Chihuly is present in over 200 most renowned decorative art collections today, while the artist holds twelve honorary doctorates!

The most illustrious series in his work are Cylinders and Baskets he created in the 1970s; Macchia, Venetians and Persians from the 1980s, Niijima Floats and Chandeliers created in the 1990s; and a more recent one, Fiori from the 2000s.

For over 30 years, Dale Chihuly has been acting as an artistic director of his team of craftsmen, since he was incapacitated in two accidents, which left him blind in one eye and incapable of holding the blowing tube. This change allowed him to see the possibilities of glasswork on a much broader scale, while still maintaining his recognizable style.