The glass work of Dale Chihuly has its roots in the Abstract Expressionist movement. Following the lead of Abstract Expressionists who used ceramics, wood, and metal sculpture as a medium of expression, Chihuly has experimented with creating sculptural forms in glass. Born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly studied at the University of Wisconsin and the Rhode Island School of Design. He received a Fulbright Fellowship in 1968 and was the first American glassblower to work on the island of Murano, Italy. In 1971 he established the Pilchuk Glass School in Seattle to help train the next generation of glass artists. Chihuly’s work exhibits influences from his boyhood memories of nature, including the sea and his mother’s garden. The sculptural quality of his works, and his playful use of bright colors and inventive forms, has made him one of the most popular glass artisans in the United States.
Website
http://www.chihuly.com
