Dale Chihuly Handblown Glass Organic Abstract 5 Foot Green Monumetal Installation

Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Organic Abstract
Size: Height of the glass body is 5 feet, 10.25". The marble plinth is 2.5" high, 38.5" long, and 24" wide
Year: 1995
Inscription: Signed and dated "Chihuly 95"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Provenance:
- Blown at Waterford Crystal Co. for the 1996 outdoor Chihuly installation, "Chihuly Over Venice”;
- James Adam & Sons, Ltd., Dublin, Ireland, Important Irish Art, December 8, 2004, lot 138;
- Collection of Joseph M. Murphy

Created in 1995, "Organic Abstract" is a monumental example of Dale Chihuly's exploration of sculptural form, scale, and color during a pivotal period in his career. Rising more than five feet above its marble plinth, the work transforms blown glass into an elegant vertical composition, combining a slender, elongated stem with sweeping asymmetrical forms that evoke botanical growth while remaining resolutely abstract. Its luminous green coloration and fluid contours exemplify Chihuly's continued investigation of the expressive potential of hot-worked glass.

The sculpture possesses distinguished provenance closely tied to one of the artist's most celebrated international projects. It was blown at the renowned Waterford Crystal Company in Ireland in preparation for "Chihuly Over Venice" (1995–1996), the ambitious multi-site installation that brought together master glassmakers from Europe and the United States. The project culminated in a series of large-scale outdoor exhibitions, marking a significant milestone in the international recognition of contemporary studio glass and reinforcing Chihuly's reputation for creating works that engage both architecture and landscape through monumental scale.

Following its creation, the sculpture entered the marketplace through James Adam & Sons, Ltd., Dublin, where it was offered in the Important Irish Art auction on December 8, 2004 (Lot 138). It was subsequently acquired for the collection of Joseph M. Murphy.

Distinguished by its exhibition history, documented provenance, and exceptional scale, "Organic Abstract" represents an important example of Chihuly's mid-1990s production and reflects the collaborative craftsmanship and technical innovation that characterized one of the defining projects of his career.

Please note that digital renderings and photographs may feature frames, plinths, or other display staging for illustrative purposes only. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, artwork is sold unframed and without display fixtures. To inquire about framing options, custom display cases, or additional specifications, please contact us directly. For example, the marble base that currently accompanies the installation can be replaced with black marble.

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly (born September 20, 1941, in Tacoma, Washington) is one of the most influential figures in contemporary glass art, credited with elevating studio glassblowing into the realm of large-scale sculpture and installation.

Chihuly studied at the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin, later earning an M.F.A. in ceramics from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). In 1968, he received a Fulbright scholarship to work at the Venini glass factory in Murano, Italy, becoming the first American glassblower permitted to train there. Upon returning to the U.S., he established RISD's glassblowing program in 1969 and, in 1971, co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State, now regarded as a leading international center for glass education.

A 1976 car accident left Chihuly blind in one eye, and a later shoulder injury further limited his hands-on glassblowing. In response, he pioneered a collaborative "team" approach, directing skilled gaffers to realize his designs—a working method that became central to his practice and enabled increasingly ambitious, architectural-scale works.

Chihuly is best known for vibrant, organically inspired series such as Seaforms, Baskets, and Chandeliers, often displayed with dramatic lighting. His large-scale public installations have appeared in museums, gardens, and civic spaces worldwide, including the landmark exhibitions Chihuly Over Venice (1996) and Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem (2000).

Widely credited with transforming glass from craft medium to fine art, Chihuly continues to work from his Seattle-based studio, where his work remains held in major museum collections around the globe.