American Studio Glass: A Survey of the Movement
May 15 - August 24, 2003

Dale Chihuly
Sunflower Yellow Basket with Black Lip Wrap Blown glass
1993 18 x 22 x 22
Photo Credit: Terry Rishel

Dale Chihuly (born 1941; resides Seattle, WA)

After earning a B.A. in Interior Design from the University of Washington, Dale Chihuly attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he studied with Harvey Littleton, and earned an M.S. in 1967. Chihuly went on to earn an M.F.A. in ceramics from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, and establish the glass program there. Chihuly established himself as an artist by drawing on an interest in Native American baskets he acquired at the Washington State Historical Society growing up in Tacoma, and combing that imagery with his newfound interest in glass, to create cylinders and baskets. Chihuly’s break-through was a one-man exhibition at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in 1978. From there, Chihuly went on to establish himself as the biggest name in glass; in fact, for many today, the name “Chihuly” is synonymous with American Studio Glass. Chihuly’s work has been exhibited in important group glass exhibitions worldwide; it has been featured in numerous one-man shows, and acquired for permanent collections of over 160 museums, including the world’s leading art museums. Chihuly is noted for his collaboration, for giving opportunities to emerging artists who’ve gone onto successful careers of their own, and for his interest and support of education. Recent exhibits include Chihuly at the V&A (the Victoria and Albert Museum in London), Chihuly in the Park, a Garden of Glass, at the Garfield Park Botanical Conservatory, Chicago, IL, and Chihuly Over Venice, which inaugurated the new Milwaukee Art Museum. Dale Chihuly has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards. Aesthetically, Chihuly’s focus in glass has been on design with attention to spontaneity and color, and centrifugal force and gravity, together with teamwork.

Back to 2003 Exhibitions