Dale Chihuly's Glass Towers Rise Over Venice's Grand Canal

Dale Chihuly returns to Venice with 'CHIHULY: Venice 2026', a new exhibition featuring three monumental glass sculptures installed along the Grand Canal. The works—'Gold Tower' (2025), 'Blue Green Tower' (2025), and 'End of the Day Chandelier' (2025)—are site-specific installations visible from the Accademia Bridge and passing boats. 'Gold Tower' rises over nine meters in the garden of Palazzo Franchetti, its blown-glass forms shifting from honey transparency to deep amber. 'Blue Green Tower' at Palazzo Balbi Valier uses deep blue and vibrant green blocks that interact with the tide. 'End of the Day Chandelier', suspended on the terrace of Palazzo Querini alla Carità, comprises hundreds of elements including tendrils, bulbs, and spirals, its name referencing Murano glassmakers' practice of reclaiming leftover glass. The exhibition is presented by the Pilchuck Glass School and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. An archival center curated by Suzanne Geiss at the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti in Palazzo Loredan documents the 1996 'Chihuly Over Venice' project with photographs, production notes, and original faxes. The installations coincide with the pre-opening of the 61st Venice Biennale.