Chihuly in the Botanic Garden
As you meander under majestic trees and through the lush landscapes of Adelaide Botanic Garden, an event by the world's most celebrated contemporary glass artist, Dale Chihuly, awaits you.
This year, Chihuly's Garden Cycle exhibition is making its Australian debut, exclusive to Adelaide.
As the light changes throughout the day and seasons, experience these vibrant, large-scale sculptures in the beautiful botanical destination.
A unique program of activities will compliment this major event, offering you opportunities to explore the art again and again.
ARTWORK
About Chihuly
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Dale Chihuly is a celebrated artist who, for more than half a century, has been creating world-class art in a range of mediums, using both new and old techniques.
His work in glass explore translucency, light and colour, creating unique organic forms that have been presented at museums, gardens and public spaces around the globe.
Find out more about Chihuly here.
Garden exhibitions
Inspired by his mother’s love of gardens and his own connection to nature, Chihuly embarked on creative journey to develop massive architectural glass installations for display in botanic gardens.
Since 2001, Chihuly has shown these magnificent forms in cities across the USA, as well as London’s Kew Gardens and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. Uniting art and nature, Chihuly’s garden exhibitions are designed to complement the environment they are placed in, delivering distinct visitor experiences wherever they are featured.
Adelaide is the first city in Australia to host a major garden exhibition by Chihuly.
- Dale Chihuly LIME AND LAVER TOWER (detail), 2021 Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix © 2021 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.
- Dale Chihuly CHARTREUSE HORNET POLYVITRO CHANDELIER (detail), 2001 Atlanta Botanical Garden, installed 2016 © 2001 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.
- Dale Chihuly FLOAT BOAT (detail), 2014 Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, installed 2021 © 2014 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.
What's on
Garden experience
Free entry to the outside exhibition during the day. No tickets are required.
27 September 2024 - 29 April 2025
Monday - Friday:
7:15am–5:30pm – spring and autumn
7:15am–6:30pm – summer (daylight savings time)
Weekends & public holidays:
9am–5:30pm – spring and autumn
9am–6:30pm – summer (daylight savings time)
Embark on a leisurely journey of artistic discovery through Adelaide Botanic Garden's manicured landscapes and magnificent tree-lined avenues.
In this curated outdoor exhibition, you will discover 15 large-scale glass sculptures by world-renowned artist, Dale Chihuly.
Discover his signature playful forms and vibrant colours at different times of the day, and seasons of the year, for a unique experience every time you visit.
In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly
Explore more in this special exhibition inside the rainforest conservatory.
27 September 2024 - 29 April 2025
Open daily: 10am - 4pm
Deep dive into the world of Dale Chihuly in this accompanying exhibition that explores the celebrated artist’s life, career, inspirations, epic installations, and his remarkable influence on contemporary glass art.
Groupings of Chihuly’s glass sculptures erupt from the lush rainforest inside our magnificent Bicentennial Conservatory where they appear to sprout like ‘hybrid plants’ from the vegetation within.
The exhibition offers tantalising glimpses behind the doors of the Chihuly hot shop and insights into how the towering sculptures placed through the Botanic Garden were conceived, transported and built on site.
Chihuly Nights
Be mesmerised by dramatically lit glass sculptures at this evening event.
27 September - 30 November 2024
Thursday - Saturday: 6.45pm - 10pm
As the sun sets on an enchanting garden, discover soaring sculptures by the world’s most celebrated contemporary glass artist.
From the setting sun to the artwork's dramatic nighttime lighting, witness how the changing light lends new dimensions to the 15 playful, vibrant artworks on a journey through Adelaide Botanic Garden.
Included in your Chihuly Nights ticket, explore the rainforest conservatory, In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly, where an additional collection of works can be found nestled in the lush botanical setting.
Head to the pavilion in the heart of the garden to enjoy live music and something delicious to eat and drink from award-winning caterers.
It’s a feast for the senses!
JamFactory Exhibition
The best of Australian glass art
We are delighted to be partnering with JamFactory for Chihuly in the Botanic Garden. JamFactory supports and promotes innovative and outstanding craft and design through their studios, galleries and shops.
Throughout the season, JamFactory will present a series of exhibitions featuring work by renowned Australian glass artists, at their site in Adelaide’s West End.
Upcoming exhibitions include:
- Gabriella Bisetto: First breath, last breath, everything in between:27 September - 24 November 2025.
- Gathering Light: 6 December 2024 - 30 March 2025
- Ninuku Arts: 6 December 2024 - 26 January 2025
Visitors to JamFactory will also be able to see live glass blowing demonstrations and enjoy guided tours and artist talks.
Get involved
Volunteer
Would you like to support the garden community and be part of something wonderful? Great, we’d love to hear from you!
Partner
Keen to partner with us on this world-class event? Get in touch to find out more and learn about our hospitality and ticket packages. Email us at ABGFoundation@sa.gov.au
FAQ'S
There will be 15 artworks dotted throughout Adelaide Botanic Garden.
There will also be a collection of smaller artworks inside the Bicentennial Conservatory. This is a ticketed event called In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly.
To visit each artwork you will need to cover approximately 2 kilometres of pathways.
Depending on whether you visit each artwork and how long you take to look at them, we would recommend allowing at least one hour for the outside experience.
Adelaide Botanic Garden is FREE to enter, and the outside trail is also FREE to explore during the day up to 6pm.
There is a ticket fee to attend Chihuly Nights (6.30pm-10pm). The cost of this event is $25 full price, $20 concession and free for children 12 years and younger.
There is a ticket fee to attend In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly, inside the Bicentennial Conservatory (10am-4pm). The cost of this exhibition is $14 full price, $12 concession and free for children 12 years and younger.
The Chihuly in the Botanic Garden exhibition will open on Friday 27 September 2024 and finish on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
You can view the artwork when the Garden is open:
Monday-Friday: 7.15am-6pm
Weekends & public holidays: 9am-6pm
Chihuly Nights will be open from 6.30pm-10pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights. This is a ticketed event.
Chihuly artworks can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Chihuly Nights will feature live acoustic music and is suitable for all ages.
This event will go ahead rain or shine. As an outdoor experience, we recommend dressing for the weather and wearing adequate footwear for walking. Please bring your umbrella or suncream and hat, depending on the weather forecast.
During times of high heat stress, opening times for In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly (which is inside the Bicentennial Conservatory) may change.
Food and drink can be purchased at Evergreen Deli, within the garden.
There is also a fine dining experience at Restaurant Botanic.
Free water fountains/bottle refill stations are dotted throughout the garden.
You are encouraged to take photos of this Chihuly exhibition for personal use on your phone, and please tag #ChihulyinAdelaide #Chihuly and #AdelaideBotanicGarden on your social media.
However, please note that commercial photography is strictly prohibited and each artwork is copyright of Chihuly Studio.
Drones are not permitted in or over Adelaide Botanic Garden or Botanic Park.
Third parties may request to take or use images of the artwork through Artists Rights Society for copyright clearance.
Got another question? No worries! Get in touch with our friendly team at botanic.exhibitions@sa.gov.au or call us on 08 8222 9311.
Partners
