Chinese artist and designer Robert Kuo is known worldwide for his modern furniture and objets d’art that merge ancient tradition and popular decorative styles such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
Born in Beijing, Kuo moved with his family to Taiwan in 1947. While he never received a formal art education, Kuo gained technical expertise working as an apprentice at his father’s cloisonné workshop from the age of 15.
In 1973, Kuo emigrated to the U.S. and opened his own cloisonné studio in Beverly Hills, California. There, he utilized the time-honored skills he learned with his father for a wide range of uniquely striking vases, sculptures and bowls. His Goldfish bowl — a technical masterpiece of vibrant colors and cloisonné designs that appear to float against a black enamel background — was acquired by the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for its permanent collection.
In 1984, Kuo opened a showroom in West Hollywood, where it became a favorite among interior designers for the sculptural and often whimsical coffee tables, stools and table lamps on offer. A year later, Kuo shifted his attention toward repoussé — a technique that sees decorative reliefs hammered onto the surface of metals. Examples of Kuo’s repoussé pieces include his black lacquer Cloud chair and Oval coffee table in antique copper.
In 2014, a retrospective exhibition celebrating Kuo’s 30th anniversary as a designer was held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles and his New York studio. In 2016, he also hosted an exhibition in his New York studio titled “Robert Kuo Selects: Los Angeles Studio Made, Found and Represented Artists,” showcasing his works as well as pieces by prominent L.A. designers Blackman Cruz, Dana John and JF Chen. In 2019, Italian artist Mattia Biagi’s L.A. exhibition “Metropolitan Sets” included Kuo’s Back Rest chair and brass Facet Seat.
Today, Kuo’s works can be seen at the National History Museum in Taipei, Singapore Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco’s Hotel Palomar, the Las Vegas MGM Grand and the Four Seasons in New York.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Robert Kuo decorative objects, seating, lighting and more.
Contemporary Repousse Fan Design Vase in Black Copper by Robert Kuo, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fan Design vase Black Copper Finish Hand Repoussé Contemporary Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hamm...
Copper
Contemporary Repoussé Round Jarlet in Black Copper by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round Jarlet Black Copper Hand Repoussé Contemporary Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decor...
Copper
Contemporary Jie Vase in Black Copper by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jie Vase Black Copper Hand Repousse Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet...
Copper
Contemporary Black Lacquer "Bo" Pot with Copper Rim by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bo pot Black lacquer Antique copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of ...
Copper
High Tang Vase, Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
High tang design vase with white bronze rim Black lacquer Hand repousse Bronze base Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dat...
Bronze
Contemporary Black Lacquer Baluster Vase with White Bronze Stripes by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Baluster Vase w/ White Bronze Stripes Black Lacquer White Bronze Stripes Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a ...
Bronze
Large Vintage 80s Modern Black Ceramic Swirl Vase
Located in Fairfield, CA
An extra large vintage 80s modern ceramic vase. Nice cylinder shape with an embossed swirl design around the sides, finished in a glossy black glaze. A scul...
Ceramic
Flores Hammered Suar Wood Patina Black Vase by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Flores Hammered Suar Wood Patina Black Vase by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 50 x H 50 CM Materials: Suar wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and...
Other
Tall Black Dehydrated Form No 63, vessel by Artist Nicholas Arroyave-Portela
By Nicholas Arroyave-Portela
Located in London, GB
'Tall Black Dehydrated Form No 63’ is a unique sculptural vessel by the British artist, Nicholas Arroyave-Portela. Nicholas Arroyave-Portela’s professional ceramic practice began in 1994. After 20 years based in London, he moved and set up his studio in Barcelona, Spain. Arroyave-Portela's creations are all thrown on the wheel using his own unique technique. Pulling up as much clay from the bottom mass as possible, the clay walls of each piece are created thin and even, maximising the artist’s ability to manipulate the form while the material is still soft and malleable. Additional porcelain slips are sometimes applied to create further surface textures and layering. After the first initial bisque firing (1080 degrees) glazes are applied by using various methods such as spraying and pouring, a process often repeated several times after each firing of 1260 degrees. The multi-firing process allows for the build-up of the glaze, creating a rich palette of tones and finishes. Arroyave-Portela's works can be found in various major museums and private collections worldwide including the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford UK...
Ceramic
Christophe de Mons for Atelier des Potiers, Black Soliflore Vase, France, 2024
Located in New York, NY
Over the last two decades at the helm of his family's Aix-en-Provence business, Christophe de Mons has gradually modernized and refined the Provençal output on which its reputation s...
Ceramic
Modern Vase in Black Shell with Brass Details by KIFU Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The "Storm Vase" by Kifu Paris is a true masterpiece of modern design, embodying luxury and sophistication through its impeccable craftsmanship. This vase, sculpted with flowing curv...
Brass
Black Metallic Oval Dehydrated Form, Vase, Interior Sculpture or Vessel, Objet D
By Nicholas Arroyave-Portela
Located in London, London
New sumptuous ceramic vessel from ceramic artist Nicholas Arroyave-Portela. Materials. White St. Thomas clay. Stoneware glazes. Multi fired to cone 9 (1260-1280 degrees) The artist...
Ceramic
