Thirty years after transforming the city and its canals with his groundbreaking Chihuly Over Venice project, world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly returns to the source of his inspiration with CHIHULY: Venice 2026. Presented by Pilchuck Glass School and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, CHIHULY: Venice 2026 will be anchored by three dramatic new sculptures installed along the Grand Canal, celebrating the artist’s enduring dialogue with the city that fundamentally shaped his career. The installations will be accompanied by an interpretive and archival center housed at the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, opening 5th May 2026, concurrent with the Venice Biennale.
reserved. Photo by Russell Johnson
There is nothing that possibly compares with Venice. Its light, its history, and its breathtaking architecture have been a constant source of inspiration for me.” Dale Chihuly
The three monumental outdoor works are all visible from the Accademia Bridge, known for its panoramic views of the Grand Canal. These new works extend the formal vocabulary Chihuly developed in the decades leading up to and following Chihuly Over Venice. The 30′ gold tower installed in the Palazzo Franchetti’s garden invites visitors to experience the intricate nature of the artwork and closely view the new forms created specifically for this Venetian presentation.
What better time to revisit the city that transformed Dale’s life and career than on the 30th anniversary of Chihuly Over Venice? It will be a chance to reflect on his legacy, the impact he has had, and the inspiration we have all received from this remarkable city.”
Leslie Jackson Chihuly, President and CEO of Chihuly Studio, and Project Director of the Venice project in 1996.
The Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, in Campo Santo Stefano is adjacent to the installations and will serve as an interpretive and archival center. In this intimate setting, drawings, photographs, videos and documentation chart the evolution of Chihuly’s process, the making of Chihuly Over Venice, and the artist’s lifelong engagement with experimentation, collaboration, and risk. Archival materials and selected artworks will ground the outdoor installations in narrative, history and material practice. The Istituto will also highlight one of Chihuly’s most important innovations, represented by a grouping of Golden Celadon Baskets (made in 2017 at Pilchuck Glass School to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Baskets series). These vessels actively embrace asymmetry, collapse, and mutation – forms that intentionally challenge the centuries of technical precision and tradition found in Murano glassblowing and demonstrate his uniquely American approach.
An accompanying exhibition catalogue, edited by curator of the Istituto Veneto presentation Suzanne Geiss, will be published in May 2026 and will include forewords from the presenting sponsors and an introduction from Leslie Jackson Chihuly. The publication will offer an in-depth look back at the original Chihuly Over Venice project (1995–96), as well as feature writings and photography of the new Chihuly sculptures to be presented along the Grand Canal in 2026.
Venice has always been a crucible for Chihuly, a place where he confronted tradition, expanded his vocabulary, and embraced the creative risks that transformed his work.
CHIHULY: Venice 2026 brings that history full circle. The Grand Canal sculptures expand on the ambition and experimentation that defined Chihuly Over Venice in 1996, while the exhibition at the Istituto Veneto gives insight into the collaborative, process-driven nature of his practice.” Suzanne Geiss
Pilchuck Glass School is thrilled to support Chihuly: Venice 2026. Pilchuck exists because of Dale and his indomitable generosity and vision. The inspiration and collaboration he gleaned from his time in Venice paved the way for him to found a school built on a commitment of collaboration, experimentation and exploration. Since Pilchuck’s first summer workshop under a tent on a hill in 1971, the collision of artistic traditions from around the world has been a hallmark of the Pilchuck experience. Now a globally acclaimed, state-of-the-art facility, this global exchange of ideas continues and is a testament to Dale’s vision, inspiration and global reach.” Donna Davies, Executive Director, Pilchuck Glass School
CHIHULY: Venice 2026 is presented by Pilchuck Glass School and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
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