Chihuly – Amazing Glass Art You Will Never Forget

“I want people to be overwhelmed with light and color in some way that they’ve never experienced.” – Dale Chihuly

The first time I saw Chihuly’s glass art was at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. I stood in the lobby staring up at the ceiling for quite a while taking it all in. Undeniably, they were the most amazing glass sculptures I had ever seen. And there were so many of them! As a matter of fact, there were two thousand pieces covering 2,100 square feet.

I discovered that the artist was Dale Chihuly. With such a unique name and unique art, I decided to find out more about this man.

Who is This Artist?

Dale Chihuly is a 79 year old American glass sculptor born in Tacoma, Washington. He began experimenting with glassblowing in 1965 and in 1966 he received a full scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Chihuly studied under Harvey Littleton who had established the first glass program in the United States at the university. In 1967, he received a Master of Science degree in sculpture. That same year, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation awarded him a grant for his work in glass. He also received a Fulbright Fellowship.

The Accidents

In 1976, while Chihuly was in England, he was propelled through the windshield during a head-on car accident. His face was severely cut by glass and he was blinded in his left eye. After recovering, he continued to blow glass until he dislocated his right shoulder in 1979 while bodysurfing. As a result, he could no longer hold the glassblowing pipe, so he hired others to do the work. In addition to all this, Chihuly also suffers from bipolar disorder, marked by sweeping swings of elation and depression. 

“Once I stepped back, I liked the view.” -Dale Chihuly

Chihuly Studio

The Chihuly Studio employs about 100 people in several locations in the Seattle. With such a large staff, he works with teams. This maintains the quality of work produced as it would be impossible for one person.

Chihuly’s art appears in permanent collections all over the United States and the world, not to mention 35 major exhibitions since 1996. In addition, the Studio creates some 30 site-specific pieces a year, ranging in price from $200,000 to millions of dollars and has done commissions for collectors like Bill Gates and Bill Clinton.

Chihuly Garden & Glass Art Museum

In 2012, the Seattle WA museum opened downtown next to the Space Needle. It consists of

• Galleries – contains 4 galleries and 3 Drawing Walls
• Glasshouse – centerpiece of Chihuly Garden and Glass is the Glasshouse. It is a 40-foot tall, glass and steel structure covering 4,500 square feet of light-filled space, 
• Garden – features paths lined with trees, plants, flowers and glass sculpture. 
• Theater – video presentations on his working process and exhibitions.

The Biltmore Estate Exhibit in Asheville NC

Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture designed the gardens at the Biltmore Estate. Unknowingly, he created the perfect setting for the large-scale glass sculptures in the Winter Garden of the Biltmore House, as well as the Italian Garden and Walled Garden.  At the same time, clever lighting allows enjoyment of the sculptures both day and night.

Summary

I have viewed this beautiful glass on three occasions: firstly, at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, secondly, at the Garden and Glass Art Museum in Seattle, WA and thirdly at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

Without reservation, I recommend a visit a Chihuly Gallery or exhibit. I guarantee you won’t forget it.