Kaurna
South Australia
Already a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, Adelaide’s lush botanic garden was elevated to a world-class art hub with the installation of magnificent sculptures by Dale Chihuly, one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary artists.
From September 2024 – April 2025, _Chihuly in the Botanic Garden_ transformed our green oasis into a free-to-experience outdoor gallery with towering glass artworks strategically placed throughout the Garden. People from across Australia and the globe visited the exhibition with friends and family to see the art, connect with each other and nature.
An additional exhibition in the heritage-listed Bicentennial Conservatory gave visitors the chance to learn more about Chihuly’s work, while the onsite Shop by JamFactory further cemented Adelaide as centre for glass excellence.
Chihuly Nights allowed ticket-holders to see the artwork transformed under a mesmerising lighting design and enjoy live music by local artists, supporting local providers and the city’s evening economy.
Chihuly in the Botanic Garden is a joyful, exuberant architectural activation, boldly interacting with the heritage of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens to create a world-class cultural experience in the heart of the city. The 15 large-scale glass sculptures, curated along a trail within the garden, include two unique pieces designed for Adelaide, celebrating the city’s unique attributes, and strengthening connection to place.
The Glacier Ice and Lapis Chandelier created specifically for the Palm House is an especially masterful and consummate example of purposeful and sensitive development that elevates culturally significant buildings.
With daytime and nighttime offerings, Chihuly in the Botanic Garden invites the visitor to re-connect with the natural world, enhancing opportunities for well-being, social connection, and active lifestyles. With exceptional accessibility to the public, clever marketing and deep engagement with the South Australian arts ecology and surrounding hospitality precinct, Chihuly in the Botanic has been enthusiastically embraced, attracting more than 1 million visitors.
The carefully considered placement of the glass works, their installation and landscaping and their relationship to the existing features within the gardens, encourages exploration to less visited areas and re-engagement with more familiar ones. The project exemplifies the aspirations of the City of Adelaide and sets a new benchmark for cultural engagement.