Dale Chihuly (American, b. 1941)
Practically a household name, and definitely the most famous ornate glassmaker of the late 20th Century, Dale Patrick Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Washington at Seattle and an M.F.A. degree from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He went on to become Chair of the Department of Glassblowing at RISD, and in 1971, co-founded the Pilchuck Glass Center. His lifelong output has been prolific, ranging from intimately-scaled and affordable works for the collector, to enormous commissioned works placed internationally. His career has also been recognized through numerous prestigious awards including a Fulbright Fellowship in Venice (1968), twelve honorary doctorates, and two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. His work is in more than 200 museum collections worldwide and is beloved by individual collectors as well as entire nations.
