“Float Boat”

 Dale Chihuly is credited with revolutionizing the Studio Glass movement and elevating the perception of the glass medium from the realm of craft to fine art.. He is renowned for his ambitious architectural installations around the world, in historic cities, museums and gardens.

“Perennial Fiori”

Chihuly, born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, was introduced to glass while studying interior design at the University of Washington. In 1968, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to work at the Venini factory in Venice, Italy. While in Venice, Chihuly observed the team approach to blowing glass, which is critical to the way he works today.

“Walla Wallas”

In 1971, Chihuly cofounded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington. With this international glass center, Chihuly has led the avant-garde in the development of glass as a fine art.

 “Monet Pool Fioro”

 “Blue & Purple Boat”

Chihuly’s work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. The Denver Botanic Gardens hosts this edition of Garden Cycle, a series of garden exhibitions that began in 2001.

“Blue Icicle Towers”

 “Perennial Fiori”

Jenny Block of Huffpost Arts & Culture had this to say about Dale Chiluly, “Chihuly is all about energy and freedom and exploration. He’s all about innovation in glass. He leaves symmetry at the door and lets gravity out to play. He challenges the glass, putting images on it to see how they distort, allowing it to flow to see how it will bend and fall, and blowing it to its limits to see just how thin he can make it. Chihuly Garden and Glass plays homage to the remarkably inspired work of a man who simply doesn’t believe in limitations in glass, in art, in beauty.”

“Turquoise Reeds & Marlins”

Portions of text copied from the Denver Botanic Gardens Chihuly Exhibition brochure.