Kohler’s Stunning New Pearlized Finish: See It First in Harry Nuriev’s Latest Installation!

The charm of a pearl, with its radiant glow and captivating iridescence, has mesmerized people for thousands of years. Typically, this unique shimmer is confined to the pearl alone, but with the introduction of Pearlized, this distinctive sheen now forms the focal point of an engaging installation featuring a dynamic array of ceramic fish. This marks a notable presence for Kohler at Design Miami in 2025.

In a collaborative effort, the renowned Harry Nuriev from Crosby Studios was enlisted to conceptualize the display, which offers a deeply immersive and playfully engaging experience. David Franklin, the first resident artist at the Kohler MakerSpace and a veteran of Kohler’s Arts/Industry residency program in partnership with the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, co-developed the signature finish. With extensive experience working with Kohler’s craftsmen and engineers, Franklin applies his profound expertise in ceramics and a unique approach to creating fluid movement within the exhibit.

As an integral part of Kohler’s Artist Editions Series, each ceramic fish undergoes a meticulous process of casting, glazing, and firing to achieve its luminosity, enhanced by a soft overhead lighting that transitions from blue to purple. The display simulates a collective motion, symbolizing a unified group with a shared consciousness. Inspired by the theme of Design Miami 2025, “Make. Believe.,” Nuriev transforms this surface innovation into a dynamic, living environment that adapts and transforms with every movement.

“Our intention was to encapsulate the ever-changing beauty of this finish and to create a space where design is perceived as something dynamic and vibrant,” explains Nuriev.

Beneath the canopy of shimmering scales is a reflective pool of softly undulating water, creating gentle ripples. Placed within these waves are Kohler’s Derring Carillon Artist Editions sinks finished in Pearlized – the premiere product to feature this new finish, meticulously crafted by artisans in Kohler, Wisconsin. The reflective water doubles the image of four faucets into eight, reminiscent of a waxing moon completing its cycle to fullness, thus visually portraying the theme of individuality within a collective.

This installation draws its inspiration from Once and Forever Lake Michigan, another creation by Franklin that comprises 1,600 intricately detailed ceramic fish, currently displayed at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. During the development of that project, Franklin, together with Kohler’s engineering team, began exploring the use of PVD technology—typically used on metal fixtures—on ceramic objects. This experimentation led to the creation of a surprisingly uniform and iridescent finish, laying the groundwork for Pearlized.

“Allowing artists the freedom to explore and create within our facilities has led to some of our most significant design breakthroughs,” remarks Laura Kohler, Chief Sustainable Living Officer.

Kohler elaborates further: “This latest artistic initiative, sparked by David during his tenure at the Kohler MakerSpace and realized through his cooperation with our team members, has culminated in a radiant product that not only fulfills a practical function but also narrates a compelling story about creative experimentation and the ongoing evolution of our design philosophy.”

Photography courtesy of Kohler.