Chihuly at Biltmore Estate

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Chihuly at Biltmore is the current featured exhibit of Dale Chihuly’s works at the beautiful Biltmore Estate. This exhibition showcases some of Chihuly’s world-renowned works in the intimate gallery setting of Amherst at Deerpark.

This reservation-only event promises to be a unique and memorable experience for art lovers, especially those who love the movement and color of Chihuly’s glassworks. 

Chihuly at Biltmore

The Chihuly at Biltmore exhibit showcases Dale Chihuly’s decades of experience, creative eye, and continued commitment to raising the bar in fine art glass with a specially curated collection of works picked especially for this newer exhibit.

More than simply touring a gallery, the exhibit is a total experience. In addition to the beautiful Chihuly works at Amherst at Deerpark, Biltmore Estate offers overnight packages featuring luxury accommodations in their Hotel, Inn, or Cottages so visitors can make an entire trip out of the exhibition.  What a wonderful experience for that special getaway.  DETAILS HERE

Mille Fiori   

You will see this type of display in almost every exhibit when Chihuly is a featured artist.

 Many of his ideas comes from his childhood memories of his mother’s abundant garden, especially the rhododendrons and azaleas.  Chihuly creates compositions from a few standalone forms, such as the reeds, to multiple freeflowing designs resembling flowers growing from all angles.

 These installations are called Mille Fiori, Italian for a thousand flowers.

 

Western Trade Blankets

Being an avid collector of Western trade blankets in the late 1960’s, especially on the vintage works made by Pendleton Woolen Mills.  This display features blankets from his own collection, dating from 1900 – 1972, from Pendleton and other mills.

From these designs, he developed his Blanket Cylinders, featuring the colors and patterns of the Indigenous designs found in the Trade blankets. 

Navajo Blanket Cylinders capture colors and patterns of woven Navajo blankets with glass.  Using thin glass threads are laid on a table in an intricate Navajo-inspired design.  The cylinder of molten glass is rolled over these threads picking them up becoming fused together.

Later he began the Basket series.  Inspired by the natural sage of the Northwest Coast native American baskets, he began creating and organic and asymmetrical glass forms.  During this time, he created new ways to create asymmetrical vessels with thing, undulating walls.    Often grouped in sets, with small pieces being nested withing larger forms. 

They started in subdued earth-tones, he later changed the scale and brighter colors.

Owning a Piece of Chihuly

Drop by the gift shop and you can take home an original piece of Chihuly Art, just like you saw on dislay.  It is a bit pricey to own one of these unique pieces.

 

 Chihuly Installations Around The Biltmore

You can see a few more pieces of Chihuly around The Biltmore.

An Iris Gold and Garnet Chandelier is on permanent display at the Biltmore Winery.

At The Biltmore House,  see a spectacular Winter White and Glacier Blue Tower.

At Antler Hill Village, catch the Torchlight Chandelier.  It’s especially beautiful against a blue sky.

A few more photos for your enjoyment.

A blown glass vase – can you see images of yellow tulips?

The Beautiful Persian Ceiling

 

These inverted chandeliers are trees

Slivered Crimson Ikebana with Clarion Stems

 

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly has a long and storied career in glass art. His story begins as a young man studying interior design at the University of Washington. After being introduced to glasswork during that time, he enrolled in the first glass program in the USA at the University of Wisconsin.

From there, he continued his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he established their first glass program. He taught that same program for over ten years, introducing a new generation to the possibilities of glass. 

In the late 60s, Chihuly received the Fullbright Fellowship and continued his work at the Venini glass factory in Venice, Italy, where he learned their unique approach to glass blowing. This method remains an integral part of his work to this day. In the early 1970s, he co-founded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington state. Through this international glass center, he continues to set the tone and pace for the continued advancement of avant-garde fine art glass. 

Chihuly’s Fiori demonstrates the artist’s penchant for organic, free flowing forms that evoke the natural world.  Chihuly’s affinity is rooted in early childhood memories of his mothr’s abundant garden where he often immersed himself in the beautiful, natural forms of the rhododendrons and azaleas.  With the variety of forms in this series, Chihuly creates compositions that range  from a few standalone forms to multiple elements brought together in installa installations he calls Mille Fiori – Italian for “a thousand flowers.”

 

Chihuly at Biltmore Information

The Chihuly at Biltmore event runs through February 2, 2025, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy these amazing glasswork art pieces.

Book today to ensure your spot.  Consider too Christmas at Biltmore begins November 2, along with select evenings of Candlelight Christmas Evenings.

Chihuly became an avid collector of western trade blankets in the late 1950’s, eventually focusing on vintage works made by Pendleton Woolen Mills.  He drew inspiration form these and Native American textiles when developing his Blanket Cylinders, a body of work which features colors and patterns reminiscent of the Indigenous designs found in these objects.  Presented here are blankets from the artist’s collection dating from 1900 – 1972, produce by Pendleton and other mills such as Oregon City Woolen Mills.

It’s important to note that this exhibition is completely different from the 2018 exhibit. This time, guests will be treated to new pedestal works, drawings, and large-scale installations featuring pieces like Chandeliers, Towers, Mille Fiori, and Neon. 

 

There’s not a bad time to visit Asheville, North Carolina and The Biltmore.

 

Biltmore in the Spring – see the splendor of color.

 

The most anticipated tours at Biltmore is during the Christmas season.  There are daytime tours and also Candlelight evenings.  You can go ahead and make your reservations now.  Popular days and times will sell out by November so start planning now.

Remember the Hallmark Movie “A Biltmore Christmas“?  Read about some of the behind the scenes which was filmed entirely at The Biltmore.

 

There’s so much more to do at The Biltmore than just a tour.  Learn to make a wreath, decorate pumpkins, or go behind the scenes.  Find out about all events HERE.

Do you love Dave Chihuly and his work?  If you are anywhere near Seattle, it’s a must to visit CHIHULY GARDENS AND GLASS.  

 

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