Photo: Erik Charlton / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Dale Chihuly, born on September 20, 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, United States, is a sculptor, glass artist and painter. That puts Dale Chihuly at 84 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes Woodrow Wilson High School and University of Wisconsin–Madison. Recorded honors include Fulbright Scholarship, Gold Medal for Consummate Craftsmanship (2006), Fellow of the American Craft Council (1986) and 1 more. Credited works include DNA Tower.
My Take
Dale Chihuly fascinates me because he took blown glass, traditionally a craft of small vessels, and dragged it bodily into the realm of monumental sculpture. His Fulbright-fueled encounter with Venetian glassblowing gave him technique, but the vision to bend it into something wholly his own is what marks him as singular. Sculptor, painter, photographer, teacher, his breadth is part of the story. Those undulating, organic forms feel like deep-sea creatures caught mid-dance, and I could stare at them endlessly. He is, plainly, a revolutionary who elevated glass into fine art.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Dale Chihuly
- Name (Japanese)
- デイル・チフーリ
- Reading
- でいる・ちふーり
- Born
- September 20, 1941 (age 84)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Snake
- Origin
- Tacoma, Washington, United States
- Occupation
- sculptor / glass artist / painter / university teacher / photographer
2. Background
- High school
- Woodrow Wilson High School
- University
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
Awards & achievements
- Fulbright Scholarship
- 2006 Gold Medal for Consummate Craftsmanship
- 1986 Fellow of the American Craft Council
- 2006 honorary doctor of the University of Miami
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | DNA Tower | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://www.chihuly.com
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale%20Chihuly
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%87%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%81%E3%83%95%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AA
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q613380
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-18
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Dale Chihuly born?
Born September 20, 1941 (age 84).
Where is Dale Chihuly from?
Dale Chihuly is from Tacoma, Washington, United States.
What does Dale Chihuly do?
Dale Chihuly works as sculptor, glass artist, painter, university teacher, photographer.
What is Dale Chihuly known for?
Notable works include DNA Tower.