Dale Chihuly

Perhaps the most famous glassblower working today, Dale Chihuly has made spectacular color-saturated sculptures since the late 1960s. The artist is best known for his large-scale architectural installations, smaller structures inspired by organic forms, and monumental chandeliers that comprise dozens of curling glass arms which radiate from a central core. These works are united by an emphasis on light; color; asymmetrical, curvilinear shapes; and a captivating extraterrestrial quality. Chihuly employs an expansive interdisciplinary team that includes glassblowers, painting assistants, carpenters, and metal fabricators. His work belongs in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, among other institutions. Chihuly has completed commissions for famous figures including Bill Gates and Bill Clinton. He has also produced paintings and works on paper. At auction, his smaller works have sold for six-figure prices.