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Inviting irregularity
Dale Chihuly has often called Baskets the most innovative work he’s done. Experimenting with the use of fire, gravity and centrifugal force, Chihuly found new ways to create asymmetrical vessels with thin, undulating walls. He often groups them in sets, with several small pieces nested within larger, wide-mouthed forms.
A new take on traditional artforms
Chihuly has long been fascinated by the natural beauty of Native American arts, particularly weaving and basketry. These traditional artforms have had a profound influence on Chihuly’s work throughout his career, particularly his Baskets and Cylinders.
SEE THE PROCESS
Chihuly’s first major drawing series
Sketches and paintings are an essential part of Chihuly’s artistic process, informing his glasswork, and vice-versa. His first major drawing series, Basket Drawings, embraces gesture and spontaneity, allowing Chihuly to explore this series in two dimensions.
"I saw some beautiful Northwest Coast Indian baskets at the Washington State Historical Society, and was struck by the grace of their slumped, sagging forms. I wanted to capture this grace in glass."
–Chihuly
View our Baskets Lookbook