Biography – Ulla Darni

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Portrait of Artist Ulla Darni

Ulla Darni, a native of Denmark, studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. Her education led to a position at Royal Copenhagen of Denmark where, as a designer and painter of porcelain, the technique and experience she gained would bring her much success in the years to come.

Her acting and singing career brought her to the United States, but it was painting that kept her here. Ms. Darni has exhibited at the Bronx Museum, Lever House Gallery and the Empire State Plaza. A frequent award winner, Ms. Darni has received several “Best in Show” awards and the “Memorial Award” at the Salmagundi Club. “First Prize” from the Pen & Brush Club led to a solo exhibition where she introduced her truly magnificent One-Of-A-Kind Reverse Hand-Painted “Ulla” lamps.

Each lamp shade is created of free-blown glass and is hand painted “in reverse” by Ms. Darni. Upon completion, they are signed and numbered. Her signature “Ulla,” along with her fingerprint, is registered with the Library of Congress. The iron and bronze bases are all designed by Ms. Darni and hand forged by European master craftsmen in Old World tradition. The result is a complete original work of art by Ulla Darni, copyrighted and accompanied by a “Letter of Authenticity.”

To say that she found her niche would be an understatement as her lamps have made her one of the most recognized and world-renowned artists of today. Whether it be her romantic florals, whimsical aquatics, infinite abstracts, intrinsic landscapes or lush tropicals, there is always something with tremendous appeal for each collector. Ed Malakoff, owner of the Pairpoint Museum, refers to Ms. Darni as “The Tiffany of Tomorrow” because of the caliber of her talent and the exclusivity of her art.

“Ulla” lamps are on permanent display in museums in Japan as well as in the prestigious Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The Royal Arts Gallery located in Osaka is the exclusive distributor for this country. Her work is also included in the art collection of Her Royal Highness Princess Benedict of Denmark. In a show of watercolors with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, two of Ms. Darni’s lamps sold for $21,000 each.

Michel Roux, President and CEO of Carillon Importers, is a collector of Ms. Darni’s work. He commissioned her to design a martini glass for the international ad campaign “Pour Something Priceless” for Bombay Sapphire Gin, and the overwhelming response to this glass led to a very special Limited Edition of 100 glasses painted by Ms. Darni. In addition, Carillon Importers did another limited edition of unpainted glasses with her curlicue design that were distributed in the 1996 gift box with Bombay Sapphire Gin. These gift boxes were sold in the United States and worldwide.

“When I sit at my table in front of a blank shade or my lighted easel with a chandelier, all thoughts leave me. With no sense of time or place I just begin to paint. Often I am the one most surprised when I see the finished glass. I feel that I have given myself to a greater power. I really did not do the painting, but instead allowed my higher consciousness to flow.”