Leila Heller Gallery is currently showcasing a remarkable collection of glass sculptures by internationally celebrated American artist Dale Chihuly. Titled Chihuly: Selections From Four Decades of Iconic Work, the exhibition spans about 40 years, from 1985 to 2023, highlighting his mastery of form, colour, and innovation. The show will be open to the public until 9 March 2025.
Featuring more than 50 glass sculptures and two-dimensional works, the exhibition connects various series from different periods of Chihuly’s career. Each art piece demonstrates Chihuly’s groundbreaking techniques, bold colour palettes, and distinctive sculptural forms.
Among the exhibits are the artist’s signature Baskets (1977), inspired by Northwest Coast Indian baskets he encountered at the Washington State Historical Society’s History Museum in Tacoma. Visitors can also have a look at the nature-inspired Seaforms (1980), which mimic the fluidity of marine life, and the Macchia series (1981), known for its dynamic interplay of colour and light, evoking the transformative energy of fire.
The exhibition’s highlights include two large-scale glass installations, the Tower and Persian Wall, which transform their surroundings with a hypnotic interplay of light and shadow. Also on display are Chihuly’s Drawings and Light Drawings, offering a glimpse into his artistic process through a vivid explosion of colour and movement.
About the artist
Dale Chihuly (b. 1941, Tacoma, WA, USA) is a pioneer in contemporary glass art. Based in Seattle (WA), he earned a BFA in Interior Design from the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1965, followed by an MSc in Sculpture from the University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI) in 1967. He later completed an MFA in Sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1986, where he also founded the RISD glass program. Additionally, he co-founded the influential Pilchuck Glass School.
In his practice, Chihuly, who has revolutionised the art of glassblowing, merges the principles of the North American Studio Glass Movement with traditional Venetian glassblowing techniques, which he studied at the renowned Venini factory in Murano (Venice).
Chihuly’s smaller-scale works draw inspiration from natural elements such as underwater life and the indigenous basketry of the Pacific Northwest. His signature style is characterised by undulating, ribbed forms, vivid hues, and intricate patterns, reflecting his deep exploration of colour, line, and form. The artist’s large-scale installations evoke organic landscapes (gardens, waterfalls, coral reefs, and forests), showcasing glass’s luminous and transformative qualities in indoor and outdoor settings.
Chihuly has displayed his works at esteemed institutions worldwide, such as the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Palais du Louvre, the V&A Museum, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Throughout his career spanning nearly 60 years, Chihuly has been granted numerous accolades, including the Gold Medal Award from the National Arts Club (2002), the Globe Award (the World Trade Center, Tacoma, WA, 1996), two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships (1975, 1977), and a Fulbright Fellowship (1968).
To learn more about Chihuly: Selections From Four Decades of Iconic Work, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
In addition, you might be interested in looking at the artworks by Michael Rice, which are on view at Mestaria Gallery. We also recommend that you visit Four Birds and One Soul, Turkish artist Melis Byuruk’s solo show.
