ST. LOUIS — Considered the Missouri Botanical Garden’s “most ambitious” art exhibition yet, visitors now can view the 20 dramatic, blown glass art installations by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly that are displayed throughout the garden.

Three years in the making, “Chihuly in the Garden 2023” is an expansive blown glass art exhibition curated specifically for the Missouri Botanical Garden’s natural landscapes.

Sharon Brooks from Hastings, Neb., has been following Chihuly’s work and said the well-known artist has been to Hastings College, where she works, multiple times. 

Brooks was traveling through St. Louis when she heard about the new Chihuly art exhibition.

“It’s been exciting for me to see how he’s grown his work into the great outdoors over the years,” Brooks said. “Much of it has stayed inside because it looks too fragile to be certainly in Midwest wind. Here it looks beautiful.”

She said the new Chihuly art installations at the garden are stunning. She mentioned that what makes the art pieces “so wonderful” is that they are within the context of the garden’s landscapes.

“An advocate for beauty and institutions, Chihuly began working with botanical gardens in 2001, bringing art lovers outside and inspiring garden lovers to see art in a new light,” a press release states. 

“His renown has continued to grow nationally and globally, most recently as the subject of a Smithsonian Channel documentary.”

Each of the 20 new art installations at the Missouri Botanical Garden is comprised of hundreds and sometimes thousands of glass pieces, according to John Dedeke, senior brand manager for the Missouri Botanical Garden. He said this year’s exhibition is the garden’s most ambitious one.

“The sculptors themselves are really intricate, but what makes this exhibition so special is that they’re displayed throughout our 79 acres,” Dedeke said.

“Chihuly’s work really compliments the natural environment. These sculptors are designed to really reflect colors and shapes that are in nature, so it’s sort of a heightened view of the natural environment, which can’t really be seen any other way.”

Longtime garden member from Pacific, Keith Muehler, said he loves the new Chihuly exhibition, specifically the color, shine and structure of the pieces. He said the yellow pieces displayed in the rose garden are very welcoming.

“I just like Chihuly in general from the first time it was here,” Muehler said.

Besides viewing Chihuly’s art at the garden in 2006, he also has seen his work in Las Vegas. Muehler also noted that he admires Chihuly’s Blue Chandelier, the sculpture that has been relocated from the visitor’s center to the Climatron.

Visitors can experience Chihuly’s art during the day, from May 2 through Oct. 15, and at night when the installations will be illuminated on Thursdays through Sundays starting May 13 through Aug. 27.

“Chihuly Nights” will include live music, entertainment, and food and drinks available for purchase while visitors walk through the garden.

“People can come out and spend the day here seeing these sculptors in the daylight, really see how they work within the natural landscape,” Dedeke said. “And then by night, we put some dramatic lighting on them. We have live music, cocktails, food, so it’s more of a party atmosphere at night.”

He said there has been an “overwhelming demand” for tickets, especially for “Chihuly Nights,” and encourages visitors to buy tickets in advance to secure preferred dates. 

Dedeke’s favorite piece is called the “Sun,” which is “a flaming ball of reds and oranges and yellows,” he said.

“I think it looks great in the daylight. It’s situated in a way where you can really look at it from a lot of different angles, but I think at night, it’s going to be really dramatic, really beautiful to see,” Dedeke said.  

The presenting sponsors for “Chihuly in the Garden 2023” are Lelia and David Farr, and other lead sponsors are Edward Jones, Schnuck Markets, Inc., Scott Schnuck and the Steward Family Foundation.

For Chihuly ticket information, click here.