Dale Chihuly Lapis Blue and Orange Five Piece Seaform Set Signed 1988

Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Lapis Blue and Orange Five Piece Seaform Set
Medium: Hand Blown Glass
Year: 1988
Largest Element: 13"h x 35"w x 23"d
2st Element: 7.75"h x 18.25"w x 9"d
3nd Element: 6.25"h x 20"w x 12"d
4rd Element: 9.25"h x 14.5"w x 16"d
5th Element: 1.25"h x 1.25"w x 15"d
Inscription: Signed and dated on one element "Chihuly 88"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

Comprising five hand-blown glass elements, this work stands as an ambitious example of Dale Chihuly's Seaform series, distinguished by its striking chromatic contrast between a deep lapis blue vessel and vivid orange interior forms. The undulating, ruffled profiles of the red elements, rendered in Chihuly's signature ribbed technique, evoke the organic rhythms of marine life, nesting within and rising from the larger blue form with a sense of buoyant, natural movement. A slender, tendril-like extension trails from the lapis vessel, reinforcing the aquatic associations central to the series.

The Seaform series emerged from Chihuly's engagement with the inherent fluidity of molten glass, embracing the material's tendency toward organic, asymmetrical form rather than imposing rigid structure upon it. Dated 1988, this five-piece set is notable for a scale and complexity that was extremely rare for the artist at this point in his career. Large-scale, multi-element compositions of this kind would not become a more common feature of Chihuly's practice until the mid-1990s and beyond, positioning this set as an early and significant precursor to the expansive installations for which the artist would later become widely recognized.

This five piece set can be displayed as a tabletop grouping, or wall mounted with an armature. The largest element measures 13" high x 35" wide x 23" deep. One element is signed and dated "Chihuly 88". The set is accompanied by a Gallery Certificate of Authenticity.

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly (born 1941) is an American contemporary artist internationally recognized for transforming the medium of blown glass through large-scale sculptures, immersive installations, and innovative collaborative production methods. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary glass art, Chihuly has expanded the possibilities of the medium beyond traditional functional objects, establishing glass as a significant form of fine art.

Born in Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly studied interior design at the University of Washington before earning a Master of Science in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). In 1968, he received a Fulbright Fellowship to study glassmaking in Venice, Italy, where he worked at the renowned Venini factory and observed the team-based approach of Murano glassblowers, a model that would later define his studio practice.

In 1971, Chihuly co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington, an institution that has played a pivotal role in the development of contemporary studio glass. Following a shoulder injury in 1976 and the loss of vision in one eye in 1979, Chihuly increasingly directed teams of artisans in the execution of his works.

His signature series—including Baskets, Seaforms, Persians, Macchia, Chandeliers, and Fiori—feature vibrant colors, organic forms, and dynamic compositions inspired by nature. Chihuly’s works have been exhibited in major museums, botanical gardens, and public spaces worldwide, and his pieces are included in numerous public and private collections. His enduring influence continues to shape contemporary glass art and installation practices internationally.