Puget Sound Forms

Dale Chihuly

Seattle Aquarium

Puget Sound Forms is an early site-specific installation by internationally renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly who chose the Seattle Aquarium as the location for this work, a series of 37 sculptural forms that resemble different types of marine life. The piece belongs to the artist’s Seaform series, which reflects his longstanding fascination with the sea—a fascination that began in the beachcombing days of his childhood and continues today at his studio a few blocks from Puget Sound. Its multiple abstract elements are nestled in and among each other, their translucent organic shapes reflecting light as if underwater. Made of handblown white and clear glass, the artwork features subtle applications of red caning, known as “body wraps,” to emphasize the undulating silhouettes. Puget Sound Forms was commissioned in 1986 as part of the Honors Program, which recognizes artists who have made significant contributions to our region through the sustained production of high-quality artwork.

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Born and raised in Tacoma, and currently based in Seattle, Chihuly is a celebrated leader in the contemporary studio glass movement. Over time, he and his workshop have challenged the limits of glass production through ever larger and more complex forms, including architectural installations. His well-known series include Cylinders, Baskets, Macchia, Persians, Venetians, Niijima Floats, Chandeliers, and Rotolo, and his work is held in more than 200 museum collections around the world. Chihuly has been honored with many prestigious awards, among them two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Chihuly Garden and Glass, a major long-term exhibition at Seattle Center, opened in 2012.