About Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum
The Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum is located next to the Space Needle, in the Seattle center and is an impressive tribute to glassblowing pioneer and artist Dale Chihuly who hails from the Pacific Northwest. His work is on display across eight indoor galleries and landscaped exterior gardens. If you are looking for a truly unique visual experience, this museum is a must see!
My Experience
As I was prepping to attend a conference in Seattle, a colleague suggested we squeeze in a visit to a local museum. She mentioned Chihuly Garden and Glass. I recalled enjoying glass blowing exhibits in Venice and Prague, so I thought why not. Her enthusiasm to share this museum with me, and see it a second time, was encouraging. And she has good taste, so I knew I was in for a treat.
We walked from the conference hotel to the Chihuly Garden and Glass. It took about 20 minutes for us to stroll to the museum, on what happened to be a very sunny day in Seattle.
We had purchased timed entry tickets in advance. Upon arrival, we debated coat check, which was available at the entry. We were glad we kept our jackets for viewing the gardens; this is an indoor and outdoor museum. The first exhibit was Winter Brilliance. The white glass against the black background embodied the intricate and beautiful detail of icicles. We were a few weeks too early to see this masterpiece with light show, which is available late November through the end of February. Nonetheless, it was stunning. I read that this exhibit was originally created for Barney’s in New York City as a holiday winter display. You can watch a short video about this exhibit here.
From here, we entered the Northwest Room. Beautiful glass vases and bowls were displayed alongside artisan baskets, and one wall was colorfully decorated with a vivid collection of Pendleton blankets.
I wasn’t prepared for the Sealife Room. It was here that I realized just how unique Chihuly’s work truly is.
As I was a bit in awe at this point, it took a while for me to make my way to the Persian Ceiling. This ceiling was amazing. All the colors and shapes engaged my imagination in deciphering the many possibilities overhead. I found cherubs hidden throughout and spent some time counting them. I took so many pictures, as every angle and area was unique.
I wasn’t prepared for the Mille Fiori either; an exhibition inspired by Chihuly’s mother’s garden. The garden had so much going on, and it filled the whole room. I walked all around and yet was certain I was missing details. I could imagine myself as a creature in this garden, transported to another world. I began to feel small, and the garden was so big and intriguing around me.
The lighting seemed to bring the exhibit to life. And the glass foundation it sat on, bore every reflection down into eternity. Everything was surreal, but alive and natural in its own space.
Then came the Ikebana and Float Boats exhibit, shown below. There are two boats filled with colorful and artistically arranged glass pieces. Chihuly’s inspiration came from the Japanese art of flower arranging (Ikebana).
Moving on, I saw a number of chandeliers that once adorned Venice. Each one a unique piece, but part of a collection. I wished I could have seen them in Venice! But then again, the lighting in the museum is perfect for viewing each glass masterpiece.
The next exhibit was a garden of flower bowls. Each so brilliant. My colleague asked me to pick which one I would want to take home. It was a tough choice, and an even tougher choice to imagine where I would put one!
It was only when we entered the Glass House that I realized just how close I was standing to the Space Needle! I took quite a few photos trying to get the best shot of the Space Needle in the background. But at some point I had to stop and simply admire the exhibit itself. It is breathtakingly gorgeous. I was there during the fall colors, so the flowers were framed with complementary coloring from the greenery outside the many windows. It was also kind of cool to think the glass art was contained within the glass structure; two very different uses and appreciations for the material.
We headed out into the Garden. What struck me here is that there were areas where the glass blended so well into the scenery, that I sometimes had to take a doubletake to see if it was nature or art. One thing was certain, art enhanced nature.
While we were outside, we also got to see a glass blowing demo. We finally headed inside and watched a few films on Dale Chihuly. The films provided context for the various exhibits. We then visited the gift shop, which is definitely worth your visit! In addition to selling original Chihuly (and expensive) pieces, there were so many cute and fun items. I was tempted to start my Christmas shopping as there were so many things my daughters and nieces would love.
Embrace the journey.
Sara Joy Travel may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via affiliate links to products on this page.
- Prepare for your visit by watching Master of Glass – The Art of Dale Chihuly Master of Glass Video. The 44 minute video offers a glimpse into the life and career of Dale Chihuly.
- Count down the days to your Chihuly Glass and Gardens visit with the Chihuly Wall Calendar.
- Familiarize yourself with Chihuly’s work with this World of Glass Hardcover Book which one reviewer called the next best thing to seeing his work in person.
Chihuly Garden and Glass website: https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/
Hours
Hours for the museum vary by day. It is best to check the Museum calendar for the date you wish to visit. Operating hours are posted one month in advance.
Ticket Prices
The price of tickets vary depending on time of day and age. See the Chihuly website to very your cost for specific date and time.
$29-35 (Ages 13-64)
$24.50-30 (Ages 65+)
$21.50-26 (Ages 5-12)
Free (4 and under)
