The Exhibition

Gardens of Glass: Chihuly at Kew was the first exhibition of its kind to be held in Europe, with its spectacular sequence of organically shaped and glass sculptures set throughout Kew’s 300-acres garden landscape and inside its glasshouses. The exhibition was specifically designed to respond to Kew’s living collections, landscape, architecture and vistas and the visitors' experience altered dramatically from day to night and from season to season.

Dale Chihuly is a leading figure of contemporary glass and has exhibited extensively in the United States and internationally, from Venice to Jerusalem, Iceland to Japan. Gardens of Glass, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, included Chihuly’s newest series of work, Fiori, which had never been exhibited in Europe before. The exhibition also included some of Chihuly’s best-loved series of work, including Macchia, Ikebana and Chandeliers.

Professor Sir Peter Crane, Director of Kew: ‘Dale Chihuly creates glass sculpture on an unrivalled scale – a scale to match the majestic environment of Kew. Wherever Chihuly and his team work they create a fantastic sense of excitement. Gardens of Glass will be the unmissable exhibition of 2005 and we were thrilled to host it.’