Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Chinese Red Seaform Pair
Medium: Handblown Glass
Larger Element: 5.25" x 10.25" x 5.5"
Smaller Element: 3.5" x 3.75" x 3.75"
Inscription: Signed "Chihuly" and inscribed with "PP95" for Portland Press Edition 1995
Year: 1995
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Dale Chihuly's "Chinese Red Seaform Pair" is a striking example from the artist's acclaimed Seaforms series, created as a 1995 Portland Press Edition. The Seaforms series draws inspiration from the movement and organic forms of the sea, translating fluidity and natural rhythm into glass. This series is characterized by bulbous, free-flowing shapes, translucent surfaces, and Chihuly's signature scalloped edges and contrasting lip colors.
Dale Chihuly's "Chinese Red Seaform Pair" is enhanced by a dramatic red color and finished with a bold black lip wrap and body detailing. Both elements feature the characteristic striped detailing of the Seaforms series, with delicate variations in tone and transparency that enhance the sense of depth and dimensionality. The combination of radiant color, subtle textural variation, and flowing sculptural lines underscores Chihuly's ability to harmonize visual energy with naturalistic form, resulting in a composition that is both vibrant and elegantly balanced.
The "Chinese Red Seaform Pair" highlights Chihuly's mastery of handblown glass as a sculptural medium and his ongoing exploration of natural inspiration and technical innovation. This composition represents a collectible example from one of Chihuly's most celebrated series, showcasing both his inventive approach to form and his distinctive use of color.
This two-piece set consists of a larger element measuring 5.25" x 10.25" x 5.5" and a smaller element measuring 3.5" x 3.75" x 3.75". The set is inscribed "Chihuly" and "PP95", and purchase includes a gallery certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact.
About Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly (b. 1941) is an American artist renowned for transforming glass from a functional medium into a dynamic form of contemporary art. Widely celebrated for his innovative techniques, monumental installations, and vivid use of color, Chihuly has been a pivotal figure in the studio glass movement, elevating glassblowing to new expressive heights. Today, Dale Chihuly glass art is exhibited internationally, from museum galleries to public spaces, and is recognized for its technical mastery, scale, and aesthetic impact.
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly initially pursued interior design before discovering a passion for glass. He studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, home to the first U.S. glass program, and later at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he deepened his expertise. In 1968, Chihuly received a Fulbright Fellowship to study at the Venini Glass Factory in Murano, Italy, where he learned the collaborative approach to glassblowing that would become central to his practice. He later co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State in 1971, establishing a premier institution for glass education and innovation.
Chihuly's artistic practice spans multiple series and forms, including the Seaforms, which explore organic shapes inspired by the movement of water, and the Macchia series, characterized by vivid, painterly color contrasts. His Baskets, Persians, and Ikebana works demonstrate his technical mastery and playful experimentation with glass as a sculptural medium. Dale Chihuly chandeliers, composed of hundreds of hand-blown elements, remain some of his most iconic and visually striking creations, transforming architectural spaces into immersive installations.
In addition to individual works, Chihuly is celebrated for his large-scale Dale Chihuly installation art, which integrates color, light, and architectural form. His exhibitions have been presented at major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the de Young Museum in San Francisco, as well as in outdoor settings such as botanical gardens around the world. The Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition in Seattle, which opened in 2012, offers a permanent showcase of his glass, paintings, and sculptures, highlighting the scope and innovation of his career.
Chihuly's work extends beyond glass to Dale Chihuly paintings on paper and canvas, which often serve as preparatory studies but are valued as independent artworks. Despite physical challenges, including the loss of vision in one eye and a shoulder injury, Chihuly has continued to create large-scale works through collaborative teams, emphasizing both technical skill and creative vision.
Through decades of experimentation, public engagement, and technical innovation, Dale Chihuly has established a legacy as one of the most influential contemporary glass artists. His work exemplifies the intersection of craft, fine art, and installation, and continues to inspire collectors, museums, and audiences worldwide. Dale Chihuly glass art remains a defining presence in the history of modern and contemporary art.
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