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Kohler Unveils New Pearlized Finish in Harry Nuriev Installation
Kohler has introduced a new 'Pearlized' finish, making its debut at Design Miami 2025 through an immersive installation created in collaboration with Harry Nuriev of Crosby Studios. This innovative finish, which gives ceramic fixtures a distinct iridescent sheen reminiscent of pearls, is featured in an exhibition designed to evoke a serene, underwater environment. The collaboration brought together Kohler's manufacturing expertise with artistic vision to transform a technical surface innovation into an engaging experience.
The installation, conceptualized by Harry Nuriev, features a swirling arrangement of ceramic fish that create a sense of movement and depth. The artist behind the Pearlized finish is David Franklin, a two-time participant in Kohler's Arts/Industry residency program and the inaugural resident of the Kohler MakerSpace. Franklin, drawing on his extensive experience with ceramic techniques and his understanding of Kohler's artisan and engineering processes, co-developed the proprietary finish. His artistic background, particularly his work with ceramic sculptures that convey meditative movement, was crucial in bringing the Pearlized finish to life.
Visitors to the Design Miami exhibition are greeted by a futuristic stainless steel door, offering a glimpse into a periwinkle-hued space. Upon entering, guests are invited into a slow, meditative environment designed to mimic the experience of looking up through crystal-clear water as light filters through. A circular pool forms the centerpiece of the installation, with a ledge around its perimeter encouraging visitors to pause and absorb the cool, ethereal atmosphere. The ceramic fish, part of Kohler's Artist Editions Series, are individually cast, glazed, and fired to achieve their luminous quality. These fish are then illuminated from above with soft, shifting blue-to-purple lights, creating a visual effect of a unified, fluid school of marine life.
Nuriev's design for the installation directly responds to Design Miami's 2025 theme, 'Make. Believe.', by transforming a functional surface into a dynamic and living environment that interacts with the viewer's presence and movement. The reflective surface of the gently moving water in the pool mirrors the overhead sculptures. Within this watery display are Kohler's Derring Carillon Artist Editions sinks, showcasing the Pearlized finish. These sinks, crafted by artisans in Kohler, Wisconsin, are the first products to feature this new finish. The interplay of four physical faucets with their reflections in the water creates an illusion of eight, adding to the immersive quality of the space and emphasizing the theme of individuality within a collective.
The inspiration for this installation and the Pearlized finish stems from Franklin's earlier work, "Once and Forever Lake Michigan," a large-scale artwork comprising 1,600 ceramic fish currently exhibited at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. During the development of this project, Franklin and Kohler’s engineering team experimented with applying PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) technology, typically used for metal fixtures, to ceramic surfaces. This experimentation led to the discovery of the unexpectedly uniform and iridescent effect that became the foundation for the Pearlized finish. Laura Kohler, Chief Sustainable Living Officer, highlighted that providing artists with creative freedom within Kohler's factories has consistently driven design innovation, underscoring that this collaboration represents a blend of art, technology, and design evolution.
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