The story of how I got these Chihuly Garden and Glass photos from the Seattle, Washington museum takes twists and turns, and actually begins in Boston.

Is there a word to describe nostalgia for something you’ll never see again? A beloved house that’s been sold. A favorite store that’s closed forever. A one-time-only art exhibit that’s since been disassembled and scattered around the world…

When One Chihuly Exhibit Closed…

This “I’ll never see it again! Nooo!” nostalgia was my feeling about the Chihuly glass art exhibit that I fell in love with in 2011 during its temporary showing at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.

I knew the exhibit wouldn’t be up for long, and after the weeks it was in my hometown, it would be disassembled and — so sad! — taken from my eyes forever. Or so I thought…

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle Opened!

Imagine my pure joy, then, when I learned that the entire exhibit had found a permanent home in Seattle, Washington! Even better, Seattle is the very city where my “little” brother (you know, the 6-foot 6-inch tall guy) just moved, meaning I could buy a plane ticket to see my sibling AND Chihuly!

Who is the Artist, Dale Chihuly?

For those unfamiliar with the artist Dale Chihuly, he is perhaps the most famous glass artist on Earth, and was born in 1941 in Washington state. His works are found all around the world, and have actually been featured several times on this blog already, spotted in various cities.

Where are Other Chihuly Glass Exhibits?

In the lobby of the Corning Museum of Glass in the Finger Lakes region of New York, you can spot a classic Chihuly tree of twisted green glass that is featured in the sixth photo down of the post I’ve linked on the museum’s name above.

Chihuly Glass Art in Montreal, Canada

In Montreal, Canada, a massive yellow glass “sun” by Chihuly is a central tourist attraction, as you can see in the fifth photo down on that post. Chihuly also has famous works in lobbies in Las Vegas, Boston, and countless cities around the world. Adding a Chihuly to a room boosts the beauty and coolness of that room a million times over!

Visiting Chihuly Glass Museum, Seattle

So what and where, exactly, is this Seattle spot where I took these color-exploding photos? This magical place is called Chihuly Garden and Glass, and is right below the famous Seattle Space Needle. It opened in 2012 and is the largest Chihuly exhibit in the world.

Biggest Chihuly Museum?!

Yes! This cool museum has both an indoor area (dimly lit so the glass positively glows against the sleek black floors) and an outdoor garden in which real, live plants are mixed with Chihuly’s glass ones to delicious effect.

Events at Chihuly Garden and Glass

If you are really cool (like my brother and my friend Carla), you can go one step further than just touring the exhibit… and can actually attend events there! Dancing? Concerts? Dinners? Fundraisers? The museum hosts them all, and I need to get myself an invite to one, stat.

As you browse through these luscious photos, I’m curious which pieces call to you the most. For me, my hands-down favorite is the colored jellyfish ceiling featured in the first and last photos of this article (and several more in between because I love it so much).

Let’s look at a few more pieces and see which ones YOU enjoy the most…

Looking for great waterfront dining while in town? I loved Ray’s Boathouse in the Ballard neighborhood for views of sunsets in Seattle and deliciously fresh seafood. Click that link to learn more!

I hope you enjoyed this walk through these Chihuly Garden and Glass photos as much as I did! Do leave a comment about your reactions, and any connections you have to Chihuly art around the world. I always love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

Want more glass art? Click on my giant roundup called “Decorative Glass Art Across the Globe” or browse this gorgeous list of 40 real-world examples of Art Inspiration and Drawing Prompts!