The Tacoma Art Museum celebrates the famous glass sculptor with a new exhibit
Since his days spent studying interior design at the University of Washington in the early 1960s, Tacoma native Dale Chihuly has conquered the world of glass art, sculpture and design. His unique talent has earned him universal praise as an artist, and his collections have appeared worldwide. This month, Chihuly’s work will make a grand return to his hometown.
From May 21 to September 25, the Tacoma Art Museum will feature an exhibit titled Dale Chihuly’s Northwest. More than 85 pieces from the artist will be showcased, as well as roughly 300 items from his collection of wool blankets, Willits canoes and Edward S. Curtis photogravures.
This exhibit will highlight a new, fully illustrated 120-page publication titled Dale Chihuly: Celebration. The book is dedicated to the people of Tacoma and the artist’s love for the Pacific Northwest – both of which have inspired him throughout his career.
Though he successively earned a Master of Science degree from the the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Chihuly still wanted to learn more about his craft.
In 1968, the artist received a Fulbright Fellowship, which enabled him to work and study at the Venini Glass Factory in Venice. In 1971, he cofounded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State, located in Stanwood. He later established a similar glass program at RISD, in which he taught for more than 10 years. He has received many awards for his work, including ten honorary doctorates and two fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts.
The work of this prolific artist can be found all over the world. Some of the glass installations that bear his name reside in locations all over the world, such as the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas, The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore and St. Peter’s Church in New York City. His designs can also be found right here in Seattle, in places like the Sheraton Hotel and UW’s Meany Hall.
His collections have also been featured in more than 200 museums worldwide; these include the the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Palais du Louvre in Paris; the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Chihuly’s largest permanent exhibit can be viewed at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. His best known series’ include Seaform Series (1980), Persian Series (1986), Ikebana Series (1989) Nijima Floats (1991) and Chandeliers (1992).
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