Exhibitions

CHIHULY: Venice 2026

Venice, Italy

Dale Chihuly returns to the canals where he redefined glass, blending archival intimacy with monumental sculptures across the Venetian lagoon.

CHIHULY: Venice 2026

Meet the artist

Dale Chihuly

ArtLovers Tip

Look closely at the Gold Tower in the garden; its spiraling shape is a direct nod to the twisted Solomonic columns found in Venetian Baroque churches, bridging contemporary glass with the city's architectural soul.

Exhibition Highlights - What you'll see

Thirty years ago, Dale Chihuly draped glass chandeliers over Venice's bridges, forever altering the relationship between ancient stone and fragile fire-blown form. This homecoming at Palazzo Loredan marks a deep reflection on that milestone, tracing the American master's evolution from experimental sketches to the bold architectural interventions that elevated glass to the realm of fine art. The exhibition, which offers free admission, serves as a bridge between Chihuly’s personal history and the city that became his most vital laboratory.

You're watching the Grand Canal catch the reflection of three new monumental sculptures, their translucent limbs reaching toward the Adriatic sky. Inside the quiet halls of the Istituto Veneto, the air feels heavy with history as you pore over original drawings and videos, eventually finding yourself in the garden of Palazzo Franchetti before a nine-meter golden tower that twists like a Baroque column made of frozen light.

Worth the trip

  • Archival depth: The exhibition unveils a rare collection of sketches, photographs, and documents that reveal the intense collaboration and risk behind the original 1996 citywide installation.
  • The Gold Tower: Standing nine meters tall in the Palazzo Franchetti garden, this sculpture comprises 1,600 individual glass pieces, creating a glittering focal point against the Venetian skyline.
  • A canal-side dialogue: Three brand-new works commissioned for this anniversary are positioned along the Grand Canal, offering a contemporary layer to the city's iconic maritime vistas.

How to experience it

Begin your journey inside the archives of Palazzo Loredan to understand the sweat and grit behind the glass before walking toward the Accademia Bridge. This viewpoint offers the perfect vantage point for the new sculptures along the Grand Canal as the light shifts toward sunset. Since admission is free, allow yourself the luxury of returning several times to see how the Venetian sun changes the transparency of the glass from morning to dusk. Afterward, wander into the nearby Campo Santo Stefano for a spritz, letting the memory of the shifting colors settle.

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