Asheville – Dale Chihuly is a renowned artist known for extraordinary glass creations. His amazing glass works of art have captivated viewers from around the world. Six years ago, the Biltmore Estate exhibited many of these colorful pieces in the gardens and galleries of the Vanderbilt home near Asheville. Once again, visitors to George Vanderbilt’s estate will be able to enjoy remarkable pieces conceived by this talented artist as they enjoy the grounds and visit this stunning French chateau. The works of art will be on display from March 25, 2024, through January 5, 2025. A gallery exhibition inside Amherst at Deerpark®, two outdoor pieces, and a large-scale installation inside the front of the Biltmore House will be on display. In addition, guests may also experience Chihuly’s Iris Gold and Garnet Chandelier on permanent view in the Biltmore Winery.
For those in the area, tickets to the Chihuly exhibition on the Estate grounds can be purchased online with prices varying for the specific day chosen ($125-145).
This American artist transforms spaces by his use of form, color, light, and transparency. The fluid shapes of his glass pieces are reminiscent of what a snorkeler might see underwater– exotic, mysterious, and incomprehensible. Dale Chihuly is known for his exhibitions and large-scale architectural installations and for revolutionizing the studio glass movement. His work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. He has been the recipient of many awards, including two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and thirteen honorary doctorates. He was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington; after graduating in 1965 from the University of Washington, he enrolled in the first glass program in the country at the University of Wisconsin. His fascination with glass pushed him to continue his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he later established their glass program and taught for more than a decade.
In 1968, after receiving a Fulbright Fellowship, Chihuly went to work at the Venini glass factory in Venice. There he observed the team’s approach to blowing glass, which is critical to the way he works today. In 1971, Chihuly co-founded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State. Dale Chihuly is an American artist who transforms spaces with experiments in color, light, transparency, and form. He is known as a pioneer in the field, and viewers are often caught by surprise; they can’t help but be awed by his vibrancy and creativity. He is known around the world for his exhibitions and large-scale architectural installations. He has revolutionized the studio glass movement. Chihuly works with a variety of media including glass, paint, charcoal, neon, ice, and Polyvitro. He is known to be a trailblazer in the art form of this century.
Chihuly has had many solo exhibitions. His work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. In 2004, his sculptures were shown at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which then added three of his sculptures to their permanent collection. Radiant Yellow Icicle Tower, a 30-foot-tall, brilliant glass sculpture was installed in December 2021; the twisting forms of Parterre Fountain have become a garden icon; while the Nepenthes Chandelier captivates visitors with the yellow, chartreuse, and gold forms hanging overhead in the Hardin Visitor Center. Chihuly exhibited at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, near London, in 2005. Other major exhibition venues include the de Young Museum in San Francisco, in 2008; the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston, in 2011; and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 2013. He famously decorated the ceiling of Las Vegas’ Bellagio Casino with 1,800 square feet of handblown glass.
North Carolina Glass Center in Asheville
Lynne Hobaica, Marketing Manager of the Center, said: “The North Carolina Glass Center is a nonprofit, public access glass studio and gallery dedicated to fostering creativity and skill development in the community. Our shared studios offer affordable access for emerging artists to launch their careers, while also providing established artists with the resources to pursue new challenges. Our gallery proudly displays a diverse range of glass art from both emerging and established artists in Western North Carolina. We offer educational programs that provide high-quality, affordable instruction to thousands of aspiring glass artists. Additionally, our community outreach programs offer safe spaces for veterans and low-income youth to explore the science and art of glass. In summer 2025, we are excited to announce the opening of a second location in Black Mountain, featuring expanded studio space and an even broader range of class offerings. In conjunction with the Chihuly exhibition at the Biltmore, the NCGC Mobile Glass Unit will be at the Biltmore March 25th to 30th, where you can watch live glassblowing.” The Center is located in the River Arts District in Asheville at 140 Roberts Street. More information can be found at: www.ncglasscenter.org.