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 Antiqued Copper Zun Table Lamp by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Zun Table Lamp Antiqued Copper Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Oyster Linen Shade Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering ...
Copper
Contemporary Bamboo Shaven Peking Glass Vase in Raspberry by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bamboo Shaven Vase Raspberry Peking Glass Hand Carved Hand Blown Glass Limited Edition Contemporary Peking glass refers to the high-quality glass art produced by the imperial and co...
Glass, Blown Glass
Contemporary Facet Lounge Chair in Brass and Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Facet Lounge Chair w/ Cream Lacquer Brass Hand Repoussé Cream Lacquer Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammeri...
Brass
Contemporary Facet Lounge Chair in Hand Repoussé White Bronze by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Facet Lounge Chair White Bronze Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. The technique originated around ...
Bronze
Contemporary Serpentine Candlestand in Copper & White Bronze by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Serpentine Candlestand Copper White Bronze Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorati...
Bronze, Copper
Antique Copper Cushion Drumstool by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Contemporary
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cushion Drumstool Antique Copper Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammeri...
Copper
Contemporary Dong Shan Table in Red Lacquer and Brass by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dong Shan Table w/ Brass Red Lacquer Top Hand Repoussé Brass Contemporary Limited Edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal...
Brass
Chair, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chair Cream lacquer Hand Repousse Metal base Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circ...
Lacquer
Contemporary Arm Rest Chair in Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arm rest chair Cream Lacquer Metal base Contemporary Hand made Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C...
Metal
Contemporary High Compote in Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
High Compote Black Lacquer Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 16...
Lacquer
Contemporary Block Vase w/ Pleats Design in Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Block vase w/ pleats design Black lacquer Antique copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. Th...
Copper
Contemporary Red Lacquer Saddle Seat Drumstool by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Saddle seat drumstool Red lacquer Hand repoussé Metal base Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer color varies. Lacquer is a technique that...
Metal
Pleats Storage Drumstool, Antique Copper and Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pleats storage drumstool Antique copper Black lacquer Hand repousse Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repousse´ is the traditional art of han...
Copper
Zong Bi Sculpture in Han Bai Yu Stone on Steel Stand by Robert Kuo, Limited Ed
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Zong Bi sculpture on steel stand Han Bai Yu stone Hand carved Limited edition.
Stone
Round Plates, Set of 3, Green Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round plates (set of 3) Green lacquer Handmade Limited edition Measures: Small 6" diameter x 1 1/2" height Medium: 8 1/2" diameter x 1 1/2" height Large: 10" diameter x 2" heig...
Lacquer
Square Crown Drumstool, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Square crown drumstool Cream lacquer Antique copper Hand repousse Limited Edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These piece...
Copper
Four Petal Cream Lacquer Pot by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Four petal design Cream lacquer Copper base Hand repoussé Limited edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are made wi...
Copper
$1,800
Robert Kuo Facet Vase
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand blown glass vase by Robert Kuo, c.2000s, USA. The vase was produced using the peking glass method which originated in China. The soft glowing green colored glass is blown into i...
Glass, Art Glass
Robert Kuo Copper Hammered Willow Vase Retailed by Steve Chase
By Robert Kuo
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A Robert Kuo copper hammered willow vase, retailed by Steve Chase for $1580.00 in the 1990s. It bears the Steve Chase inventory label and the retail ...
Robert Kuo Persimmon Facet Vase
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand blown glass faceted vase by Robert Kuo, c.2000s, USA. The vase was produced using the peking glass method which originated in China. The persimmon colored glass is blown into it...
Glass, Art Glass
Robert Kuo Gray Facet Vase
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand blown glass faceted vase by Robert Kuo, c.2000s, USA. The vase was produced using the peking glass method which originated in China. The gray colored glass is blown into its for...
Glass, Art Glass