How lucky we are to have this exhibition on in Adelaide now until the 29^th of April 2025.

Dale Chihuly is the world’s most celebrated contemporary glass artist and has displayed his large scale sculptures in cities around the world, and for Australia that is Adelaide in South Australia.

The Adelaide Botanic Garden is a beautiful natural setting worth visiting throughout the year anyway but these 16 large scaled glass sculptures bring a whole new level to the enjoyment of a walk through the gardens.

The artist first exhibited work at the JamFactory art space in Adelaide in 2000, and he’s been wanting to return and present work in the Botanic Garden since then. Luckily for us this has come to fruition and what an amazing spectacle it is.

As you enter the garden you can pick up a map which will direct you to each of the artworks, and at night time it’s as simple as following the festoon lights which brightly light the way. There are displays indoors and out with quite a few sculptures to see in the Bicentennial Conservatory, and the amazing glass chandelier made especially to suit the iconic glass Palm House.

It’s truly breathtaking and the scale of the sculptures is just incredible, it’s staggering to think of the effort it would have taken to place them in amongst the plants and garden beds and remain out in all the elements. These sculptural works of art are so at home in the Botanic Garden setting, with the pieces taking on almost plant like lifeforms where they sit. It’s hard to comprehend sometimes that they are made of glass and you have to keep reminding yourself.

Don’t miss this exhibition, it is absolutely worth a trip to Adelaide to see. During the day it’s free to enter the Botanic Garden and see them but for something extra special, go in the evening when the artworks are lit and take on another dimension.

It’s an easy walk around the garden, even at night, and the trail to see all of the sculptures is around two kilometres on smooth pathways. Give yourself at least a couple of hours to see them at leisure, and while you’re there, head to the Schomburgk Pavillion in the centre of the garden where you can buy food and drink and be entertained with live music.

Chihuly Nights in the Botanic Garden is on Thursday to Saturday nights and costs $25 for adults and $20 concessions. Gates are open from 6.45pm to 10pm for the evening sessions and the garden is open during the day from 7.15 am to 6.30pm on weekdays and from 9am on weekends.

Enjoy

Glenys