Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will host "CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens" from May 2 to November 1, 2026, featuring the largest exhibition of Dale Chihuly's work ever held at the institution. The show includes 12 large-scale outdoor installations, over 80 indoor glass pieces, and 40 related drawings, with a 30-foot tower and glass boats in the Japanese Gardens. This marks the third Chihuly exhibition at Meijer Gardens, following shows in 2002 and 2010, and is one of only two 2026 exhibitions of the artist's work worldwide—the only one in America.
The exhibition matters because it underscores Chihuly's unique role as a household name in sculpture, a field with few such figures, and highlights his revolutionary impact on glass art. Before Chihuly, placing glass sculptures outdoors was uncommon due to fragility, but his large-scale installations have transformed how the material is perceived and displayed. The show is expected to draw over a million visitors, reflecting the artist's enduring popular appeal and the deep institutional relationship between Chihuly and Meijer Gardens, one of only two venues to host three of his exhibitions.