The world’s most celebrated contemporary glass artist, Seattle-based Dale Chihuly, is choosing the stunning Adelaide Botanic Garden for the first major outdoor exhibition of his work in Australia and the wider southern hemisphere.
Chihuly will present a curated selection of large-scale installations and sculptures in this Australian-exclusive major event from September 27, 2024, to April 29, 2025.
Known for pushing the limits of the glass material and elevating the medium from craft to fine art, Chihuly started placing installations in conservatories and gardens in 2001, beginning what has become known as his “Garden Cycle.”
With this new exhibition, Adelaide will become only the third city outside the USA to host a “Garden Cycle” exhibition, following Kew Gardens in London and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.
“I have sought an opportunity to return to Adelaide since 2000 when I first presented work at the JamFactory,” said Chihuly. “Adelaide Botanic Garden offers so many rich colors and textures – the ideal environment for the placement of my work, and I look forward to sharing this new exhibition with the Adelaide and South Australian community.”
An exhibition of epic proportions – Adelaide Botanic Gardens is preparing for between 750,000 and 1.5 million visitors between September 2024 and April 2025, which is an approximate 500,000 additional visitors.
South Australian Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said, “This is a coup for South Australia and the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, and the project will act as an important driver of national and international cultural tourism to our state and showcase our Botanic Gardens to new and returning visitors.”
As part of the exhibition, the Botanic Gardens will also be allowing businesses to use the Chihuly exhibition as an event space to host clients or staff with an experience amongst the monumental sculptures, which can be tailored to a bespoke, money-can’t‑buy exclusive to a more traditional corporate hospitality package, or something in between that suits your organisation.
To find out more, contact georgia.davidson@sa.gov.au
