Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Paradise Persian
Medium: Hand-Blown Glass
Dimensions: 6" h x 10.25" w x 8" d
Year: 2003
Inscription: Signed “Chihuly PP03"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
"Paradise Persian" belongs to Chihuly's “Persian" series, first developed in the 1970s, where the artist explored free-form glass shapes inspired by organic and exotic references. The series emphasizes movement, color, and abstraction, departing from strictly representational form. This example displays a vibrant palette of blue tones ranging from translucent light blue to deeper cerulean. Its undulating, flared contours are edged with a contrasting yellow rim, accentuating the work's boundary while highlighting the fluidity of the form.
The sculpture demonstrates Chihuly's technical mastery in manipulating molten glass to achieve layered textures and dynamic silhouettes. Its interplay of internal and external space—through the bowl-like interior, radiating linear striations, and the outwardly unfolding rim—creates a composition that appears simultaneously delicate and robust. Light interaction further enhances the work, animating subtle shifts in translucency, tone, and reflection, qualities that make the sculpture responsive to its environment.
Within the broader context of Chihuly's practice, "Paradise Persian" reflects the artist's ongoing refinement of the Persian series. It highlights his ability to merge bold color, organic rhythm, and technical innovation in a compact, intimate scale. The work illustrates Chihuly's role in expanding the possibilities of studio glass, transforming traditional craft into contemporary sculpture that bridges art, design, and material experimentation.
Dale Chihuly's "Paradise Persian" (2003) is a hand-blown glass sculpture inscribed “Chihuly PP03." The piece measures approximately 6 inches high by 10.25 inches wide and 8 inches deep and is accompanied by a gallery certificate of authenticity.
About Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly is an American artist whose innovative work in glass has established him as one of the most influential figures in the studio glass movement. Born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly studied interior design at the University of Washington before pursuing glass at the University of Wisconsin–Madison under Harvey Littleton, a pioneer of the studio glass movement. He later earned an M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he would also teach for more than a decade, shaping a generation of glass artists.
Chihuly's career has been defined by his technical experimentation and his ability to expand the expressive possibilities of glass beyond the traditional vessel form. A Fulbright fellowship enabled him to study at the Venini glass factory in Murano, Italy, where he was exposed to team-based glassblowing methods. This collaborative approach would become central to his practice. Following a 1976 accident that left him blind in one eye, and subsequent injuries that limited his ability to handle glass directly, Chihuly increasingly relied on teams of skilled assistants to execute his large-scale works, allowing him to focus on conceptual design and artistic direction.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Chihuly developed a series of major bodies of work, including his Cylinders, Baskets, and Persians, each exploring form, color, and the physical properties of glass in new ways. His Seaforms and Macchia series emphasized organic shapes and vibrant color combinations, while later projects such as the Chandeliers and Mille Fiori installations pushed the boundaries of scale, transforming architectural spaces into immersive environments.
Chihuly's work has been exhibited internationally and is included in more than 200 museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Major public commissions and exhibitions, such as Chihuly Over Venice (1995), Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem (1999), and his ongoing presence at the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, have further cemented his reputation as a leading contemporary artist.
Over the course of his career, Chihuly has received numerous awards, including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and recognition from the American Craft Council. His practice has redefined glass as a medium for contemporary art, blending craft traditions with bold experimentation to create works that are both technically groundbreaking and visually transformative.
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