Located next to the Space Needle at Seattle Center

Exhibition

Exhibition

Providing a look at the inspiration and influences that inform the career of artist Dale Chihuly, the Exhibition includes eight Galleries, the centerpiece Glasshouse and a lush Garden.

Galleries

The eight galleries and three Drawing Walls offer a comprehensive collection of Dale Chihuly’s significant series of work. The artworks demonstrate how he pushed the boundaries of glass as an art medium in concept, execution and presentation.

Glasshouse

The centerpiece of Chihuly Garden and Glass is the Glasshouse. A 40-foot tall, glass and steel structure covering 4,500 square feet of light-filled space, the Glasshouse is the result of Chihuly’s lifelong appreciation for conservatories. The installation in the Glasshouse is an expansive 100-foot long sculpture in a color palette of reds, oranges, yellows and amber. Made of many individual elements, it is one of Chihuly’s largest suspended sculptures. The perception of the artwork varies greatly with natural light and as the day fades into night.

Garden

Anchored by four monumental sculptures, the exhibition Garden provides an opportunity for discovery and surprise. A rich backdrop for the art, it features paths lined with trees, plants and flowers. Crimson camellias, scarlet daylilies, dogwoods, hardy fuchsias and handkerchief trees provide the setting for theCrystal and Icicle Towers and an installation of Reeds on Logs. At the center of this lush landscape, on a bed of black mondo grass, is the Sun, an explosion of yellow and orange.

PLANT LIST & GARDEN MAP

Theater

The Theater presents short videos on Chihuly’s working process — interviews, glassblowing, working onsite doing installations and exhibitions. Visitors will see the choreography in the hotshop as the team executes his vision. The Theater is a gathering place for lectures, educational and community events in a state-of-the-art audio visual environment.

“If I had not been a sculptor or an artist, I would love to have been a film director or an architect.”

Dale Chihuly

Developing the Exhibition

After being invited by the Wright family to exhibit at Seattle Center, Chihuly started working with Center Art on a plan for the 1.5-acre plot. In consideration of best practices for the environment, the group decided to repurpose the existing building for the Exhibition Hall, add garden space and design a glass house as the centerpiece of the project. Chihuly chose specific artworks from his career and started to envision new sculptures for the site.

Intended to function as a community gathering place, Chihuly Garden and Glass broke ground in August 2011. The installation of artworks in the Gardens started March 2012, and then moved into the Glasshouse and Galleries. The project received LEED Silver certification in late 2012.

"Do Not Miss"

Thought we were killing an hour but was the highlight of our day. No photographs could do it justice. We are seasoned travelers and one of the best exhibits I have ever seen.

 

Reviewed October 29, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Delightful"

Visit during the evening and you'll be delighted by the garden spectacle. Chihuly's glass sculptures come alive through the vibrant showcase amongst nature - its best context! A feast for your eyes and imagination.

 

Reviewed October 29, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"A must when visiting Seattle!"

This exhibit is absolutely amazing! I have visited Seattle many times and this was my first visit to Chihuly and I cannot believe it took me so long! The glass is breathtaking and each piece is beautiful and unique. I HIGHLY recommend visiting when your in the city.

 

Reviewed October 29, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Spectacular"

What a wonderful exhibit! This was a total surprise to me and it was a visit to remember. Each exhibit was breath taking and fortunately there is a series of short films explaining the process. To my mind this is a must see in Seattle.

 

Reviewed June 2, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Amazing. Go here."

Amazing art, great venue- great setting. Flawless. Don't miss this place. Went with a 3 year old and she was even impressed. Amongst lots of Seattle tourist destinations- easy to get to. Seriously, go here!

 

Reviewed May 4, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"A wonderful treasure"

Photos cannot do this exhibition justice. As I wandered from room to room my reaction was a continual WOW. Then to head out into the Garden and see Glass sculptures matching the flower gardens - that was beautiful. If I had more time in Seattle, I would have loved to have visited again.

 

Reviewed May 4, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Don't miss it!"

An amazing and beautiful exhibition of craft glass. I'm not usually impressed by this sort of stuff but the scale, variety and lighting of these very elegant glass sculptures is amazing. The gardens, with glass and flowers contrasting and blending, are also very relaxing - if it wasn't for the traditional Seattle drizzle!

 

Reviewed May 4, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Beautiful, peaceful and one of a kind..."

A great way to spend a couple of hours. Take your time strolling through the museum. Part of the museum is a theater with several short films about Chihuly - take the time to watch them, they are interesting. Take plenty of pics, some of the most beautiful colors! Also great is the fact that you can buy your ticket via a kiosk outside, will save you tons of time. You can also buy a joint ticket for the space needle and the museum. One fun tip: in the garden in the afternoon there is a blue glass ball that has a beautiful reflection of the space needle. it is one of my favorite pictures from my trip to Seattle.

 

Reviewed May 4, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Glass at it's Very Finest"

You will find no other display of glass works as plentiful and as beautifully mastered as Seattle's Chihuly Garden and Glass. Whether you have ever blown glass or not, you will be left amazed.

 

Reviewed May 3, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Moved me to tears"

I am not an artistic person, but I did connect with the display at this museum. The presentations of Native American art was small but well displayed. I love to garden and the use of glass outside as a natural drop was creative and spectacular.

 

Reviewed May 3, 2015 on TripAdvisor

"Wow!"

If you are not familiar with Chihuly, you will be amazed. Wide variety of works representing his artistry over the years. The outdoor gardens are spectacular, and if you are observant, you will find glass orbs with the Space Needle reflected in them!

 

Reviewed May 2, 2015 on TripAdvisor