Today we are celebrating one of the world’s most talented blown glass artists, Dale Chihuly, who has a number of amazing exhibits around the United States to be seen. Many of these photos are from both permanent installations and traveling exhibits, and it’s fascinating to see how some of the same sculptures give different impressions in different settings. You can find upcoming exhibitions on his website.
Chihuly was born on September 20, 1941, in Tacoma, Washington, and started working with glass in 1965. A year later, he attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison on a full scholarship and enrolled in the university’s glass program, which was the first of its kind in the U.S. There he studied under glass artist and professor Harvey Littleton. He later went on to focus on his art and also co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School.
Here are some of the highlights of his work, with exhibits from Denver Botanical Gardens; Seattle’s Chihuly Garden and Glass museum; the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, Florida; the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida; the New York Botanical Garden; and my favorite of these, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Glass is the most magical of all materials. It transmits light in a special way.”
-Dale Chihuly
Denver Botanical Gardens
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display among the autumn foliage at Denver Botanic Gardens, October 11, 2014 in Denver, CO
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display at Denver Botanic Gardens
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display at Denver Botanic Gardens
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display at Denver Botanic Gardens
Bright Blue Glass Balls Chihuly Sculpture Sitting in the Water, Reflection Visible, in the Denver Botanic Gardens in Denver, Colorado (Dale Chihuly Traveling Exhibit)
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display among the autumn foliage at Denver Botanic Gardens, October 11, 2014 in Denver, CO
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display at Denver Botanic Gardens
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display among the autumn foliage at Denver Botanic Gardens, October 11, 2014 in Denver, CO
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display at Denver Botanic Gardens
Glass artistry of sculptor Dale Chihuly on display among the autumn foliage at Denver Botanic Gardens, October 11, 2014 in Denver, CO
Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit, Seattle, Washington
Chihuly Garden and Glass museum featuring one of Dale Chihuly’s largest sculptures suspended from the ceiling of the glasshouse.
Blown glass by Dale Chihuly in the Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle WA
VIew of the glasshouse with yellow sculpture made of blown glass, Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, Seattle, Washington.
Colourful blown glass sculptures to represent the sea, Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, Seattle, Washington.
Mille Fiori Exhibit by American Artist Dale Chihuly at Chihuly Glass and Garden Museum
Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum – Blown glass in abstract shapes
View of the Space Needle from inside the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum conservatory
Glass sculpture at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, Seattle Center
Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, FL. Glass sculpture by famous glass artist Dale Chihuly
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Florida
Dale Chihuly, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Dale Chihuly Exhibition at Fairchild Tropical Garden
Dale Chihuly Exhibition at Fairchild Tropical Garden
Dale Chihuly Exhibition at Fairchild Tropical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
Dale Chihuly exhibit at New York Botanical Garden
Dale Chihuly exhibit at New York Botanical Garden
Dale Chihuly’s art exhibition displayed at NYBG. Shown here is the Sapphire Star.
Dale Chihuly’s art exhibition displayed at NYBG. Shown here is Glasshouse Fiori, placed within the garden to resemble plants as well.
Dale Chihuly’s art exhibition at NYBG. Shown here is Sol del Citron, one of the highlights, at the entrance of the Haupt Conservatory
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
The glass artistry of Dale Chihuly is on display among the foliage at the Desert Botanical Garden through May 2014, January 10, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix hosted an exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s works of art in glass
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix hosted an exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s works of art in glass
A Chihuly glass artwork sits amid desert landscape in Phoenix on December 10, 2013.
A Chihuly glass artwork is open to the public at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix on December 10, 2013.
