STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.- Renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly will exhibit several of his works of art to include two large Chandeliers and a Persian Wall, at the Schantz Galleries, located at 3 Elm St., from July 8 through Aug. 28. While Chihuly is famous for his ambitious architectural installations in notable cities, museums, and gardens around the world, Schantz Galleries provides visitors with a more intimate setting in which to enjoy the works on view. An opening reception for Chihuly at Schantz Galleries 2016 will be held on Friday, July 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

With a background in interior design and architecture, Chihuly has always been interested in space and light. Working within the architecture of the gallery, he presents several of his well-known series along with a few large-scale installations. The centerpiece of the gallery is Sunrise Topaz Chandelier, a two-tiered Chandelier consisting of approximately 430 amber, gold, and clear elements.

An American sculptor, Chihuly has mastered the alluring, translucent, and transparent qualities of glass, ice, water, and neon, to create works of art that transform the viewer experience. He is globally renowned for his ambitious, site-specific architectural installations in public spaces and for his work in more than 250 museum collections.

In addition to the blown-glass sculptures, Chihuly has included sixteen of his works on paper. As Nathan Kernan has stated in an essay, “Drawing into Space: Chihuly Drawing Revisited”, “Chihuly’s drawings over the past thirty-five years constitute a parallel visual world as compelling and original as that of his amazing sculptures.” The artist has always used drawing as a form of conveying his concepts and ideas for his sculptures, and one can certainly experience his expressive energy and love of color. “You can more directly sense my energy in my drawings than in any other way, perhaps,” he has said. “And from the very beginning, the drawings were done, as my glass is done, very quickly, very fast.”

“We are truly honored to have the opportunity to exhibit works by Dale Chihuly in Stockbridge. Chihuly is one of the most well known living American artists,” gallery owner and director Jim Schantz stated, “and certainly the most recognized glass artist in the world today.”