Dale Chihuly was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1941, and while the first time he’d blow glass would be in 1965, he’d truly discover his passion for the craft in 1968 following a trip to Venice where he’d learn its secrets and intricacies. Chihuly is one of, if not the most well known glass artist of the modern era, creating hypnotic pieces heavily inspired by aspects of the natural world, such as plants and ocean life. Over the course of his over forty year career, he’s created dozens upon dozens of pieces and exhibitions that have been seen in museums, galleries, and other organizations all over the world and 32 states, including Cheekwood and the Frist Museum. Though losing sight in his left eye and an injury in his right arm caused by various accidents throughout his career prevents him from taking a more hands on approach in the creative process nowadays, he still remains an active part of his team as “more choreographer than dancer, more supervisor than participant, more director than actor” in his own words.
Chihuly is a pioneer to the art form of glass blowing, emphasising the force and power of heat, gravity, and centrifugal force in otherworldly pieces that seem to almost defy the laws of physics at points.
Works cited:
https://fristartmuseum.org/calendar/detail/chihuly-at-the-frist