Presenting the Artist: Dale Chihuly
Written By Jean Sexton
Posted 02/18/24
Updated 07/22/24
Events & Activities
Renowned for pushing the limits of glass as a medium, Dale Chihuly has presented groundbreaking artworks all around the world.
With Chihuly at Biltmore now on display, we invite you to learn more about the artist and his lasting influences on contemporary art.
Chihuly the innovator
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Dale Chihuly embarked on his journey into the world of glass during his studies of interior design. His fascination with the medium led him to a Fulbright Scholarship that saw him travel to the renowned Venini glass factory in Venice, where he immersed himself in traditional techniques and team glassblowing.
His innovative teaching methods and artistic vision left an undeniable mark on the field, pushing boundaries and emphasizing collaborative glassblowing techniques. Chihuly’s ideas have pushed the limits of glass as an artistic medium, with his work included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide, earning him numerous awards, including two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and 13 honorary doctorates.
Exhibitions around the world
Chihuly’s love for travel began with his first trip to Italy at the age of 21, where he pursued the study of art in Florence. He returned to Italy in 1996 for perhaps his most iconic project, Chihuly Over Venice, a massive undertaking that started with glassblowing sessions in Finland, Ireland, and Mexico.
At this time, his work has been featured in 26 countries and Chihuly continues to present ambitious exhibitions at museums and botanical gardens across the globe.
Art on a grand scale
Chihuly’s work boasts more than a dozen acclaimed series, each a testament to his mastery of form and color. Among these are Cylinders, Baskets, Seaforms, Macchia, Persians, Venetians, Niijima Floats, Chandeliers, and Fiori—many of which are incorporated in the current exhibition at Biltmore!
Chihuly’s lifelong fascination with nature and glasshouses grew into a series of exhibitions within botanical settings, including London’s Kew Gardens, Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. In 2012, his long-term exhibition, Chihuly Garden and Glass, opened at Seattle Center.
In 2018, Biltmore welcomed Chihuly at Biltmore, an exhibition showcasing the artist’s breathtaking large-scale glass sculptures in the century-old gardens of America’s Largest Home®. This unique visual experience marked the first art exhibition in Biltmore’s historic gardens and the first garden exhibition of artist Dale Chihuly’s works in North Carolina.
An all-new Chihuly at Biltmore
The success of Chihuly’s 2018 outdoor exhibition at Biltmore paved the way for an all-new Chihuly at Biltmore exhibition, now on view inside the galleries of Amherst at Deerpark®.
Featuring 33 curated artworks, including pedestal works, Drawings, Chandeliers, Towers, Mille Fiori, Neon, and two large-scale installations on estate grounds, this exhibition offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Chihuly’s iconic artworks.
Experience awe-inspiring artwork at Biltmore
Ready to immerse yourself in a world of wonder? Plan your visit and reserve your special admission-inclusive overnight package at one of our distinctive hotels for this must-see exhibition.
Featured Image
Dale Chihuly with Laguna Torcello II, Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina, 2018 ©
2018 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.
