Chihuly Collection

I recently went to Chihulys art museum in Seattle, Washington and was amazed! The museum in Tampa, Florida was not as good as Chihuly art museum in Seattle. There was no descriptions or audio tours to learn about Chihulys collection. It took us 15 minutes to see everything not worth the drive out or money. In addition, we called ahead to find out mother’s day specials and they stated all mother’s get in free. However, when we got there they told us that was not the special and would not honor it. The art show was good but don’t go to the last show. The show ahead of us ran late and they ended up inviting us all in to see the last steps of the piece they were making from last show. We had to ask for them to do another demo because we wanted to see the beginning. Chihuly is an amazing artist but I was not impressed by this museum.

Love Chihuly and his work. That said… If you’re at all familiar with Chihuly’s work, skip it. $ 15 for five exhibits in four rooms is a rip-​off.

I am a Chihuly fan! I fell in love with his work when I stepped into the Belaggio Hotel in Vegas years ago.
His collection in this boutique museum is priceless. It’s a sneak peak of what you’ll expect to see in Seattle where his main collections are artistically displayed. For $ 14.95 you get a 45 minute tour which explains the history of Chihuly as well as his collections. Vibrant colors and pieces will leave you in awe. I can’t get enough of his art pieces.

A gorgeous, stunning, breath-​taking collection that is a must see! I took my mom and grandmother here on a Friday afternoon and it was well worth the drive. Make sure you check their website or call ahead to get the times for the free tour (it’s quite informative and the docents know a great deal about Chihuly’s history).

I love Dale Chihuly’s work, and have seen several exhibitions and installations all over the country. The works displayed here were wonderful, and I appreciated the work that went into making the venue complement the art.
However, it was a small place. There were a few pieces from other artists, but it was difficult to make this $ 16 visit last more than 40 minutes. The docent/​guide was caught in traffic, so there was really no other option but to read the brochure and be done.
If there were days and times with special prices, I’d recommend trying to make that work. And definitely plan to do more with your day…

A beautiful glass artwork exhibit. Each room you wonder into is so different and just as amazing as the one before. The lighting seems to provide such sense of delight and awe to the pieces.

Make sure to take in the daily tour. A splendid display of Chihuly works and his passion for his métier.

Great little museum featuring some amazing work by Chihuly. There were some really fun pieces here. The museum is small but still worth a viewing. Could be a little bit cheaper for what you get.

We have seen several Chihuly exhibits so we were looking forward to going. We were a little disappointed, but that may be unfair, since our two previous experiences were very large, and this collection is much more modest. That said, this pieces on display, and the groupings are all beautiful and well done. It is easy to have visual sensory overload.
The bottom line is that if you have not seen a Chihuly exhibit before, then you should definitely go — you will love it. If you have seen the Atlanta Botanical Garden installation, the exhibits at the de Young in San Francisco, or one of his other large exhibits you will probably find this collection a little disappointing.

What a beautiful gem Chihuly is. If you must pick a St. Pete spot to visit, whether you are on vacation, on a date, or looking for a stay cation spot, this is the place to go.
Dale Chihuly is an artist with great eye! His glass collection are vibrant, original, and beautiful. When walking through, I was amazed at all of the displays. They were colorful and full of life
My double date with my hubby and our couple friends Savitre & Justin was wonderful here. We loved taking pics with the displays in the background.
This collection will be moving to Central Ave. They have gotten a new bigger space that will include event space. I look forward to when it is complete, and seeing the new space.

This is a must-​see exhibit! It’s not very large, but it’s beautifully lit and arranged. It really does justice to Chihuly’s art. Being able to see so many pieces up close and appreciate all the detail was a treat. When we visited, there was a small temporary exhibit of glass works from two other artists (one I believe a student of Chihuly’s) so it was a rare opportunity to see other techniques. There was a gift shop attached to the museum but sadly it did not sell any blown glass pieces. We easily found a metered parking spot out front.

Awesome collection of beautiful blown glass all under one roof. We came today for Free Museum Day, except the Chihuly collection was charging $ 1 for entry (rather than the usual $ 14.95 fee). I’d say it was well worth that $ 1.
The exhibit itself is actually quite small. We were able to walk through it and see everything in about 30 minutes. However, the beautiful chandeliers, bowls, glass balls and other glass statues were totally amazing. I love the creativity and beautiful colors of Chihuly’s work.
Definitely worth checking out!

Yeah, so the museum is small… No self respecting art lover complains of such trivialities when the art is magnificent like this… Mesmerizing and magical. Totally worth the entrance fee.

— Short Synopsis —
Cool, interesting glass artwork in a building designed to showcase the art worthy of 5 stars, but too small of a collection and an expensive normal ticket price in my opinion bring it down. You can get through the collection in half an hour or less and I am not sure if that is worth $ 15 for a normal ticket.
Park in the Sun Dial Garage if you can’t find street parking. It is $ 1 for four hours on weekends and weeknights.
— Summary —
The collection is in a good location as it is within walking distance of many restaurants, the Museum of Fine Arts, the waterfront, downtown St Pete, and Sun Dial. I was coming from Sun Dial and recommend parking in the Sun Dial Garage if you can’t find street parking as stated in the short synopsis.
I decided to check this place out with my girlfriend for their 5^th anniversary (July 11^th-​12^th) special that was $ 5 for both the Chihuly collection and the Hot Glass Studio. It was a good deal as the combo ticket to both places is usually around $ 20 for adults. Both places are small.
You purchase your tickets in the gift/​retail shop next door; there is a subtle «Tickets» sign above the gift shop door. I feel like they could use a more prominent sign/​indicator on the main entrance to tell this. I saw many people come in to be turned around to the gift shop next door to purchase admission.
We were able to get through the Chihuly Collection, while taking pictures and snaps (SnapChat), in around 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the docent tours were only on the weekdays and the sale was during the weekend, so we were unable to experience that; I have heard that those take around 30 minutes as well.
I really did enjoy seeing Chihuly’s cool glass work. I would give 5 STARS for how beautiful it is and how the architecture and design of the building presents the artwork; however, I would not pay the normal ~$ 15 price to get into the (small) Chihuly Collection that can take less than 30 minutes to complete. Considering the price and length as well, the overall rating would just be okay (3 stars).
The Morean Glass Studio and Hot Shop are more worth it. I like seeing the glass being made, but that’s another institution.
I will not be coming back unless something new is added/​changed or the prices were lowered, like the 5^th anniversary sale.

What a thrilling spectacular addition to the St Pete scene. The shop is fab but the Dale Chihuly Collection is eye popping and worth every $ to see it! Join as a member & reap all the extra perks! There is a gallery event in July ’15. Can’t wait to come back! Stunning!

Chihuly is amazing. His work is just… indescribable. But this collection was disappointingly small to me – although I’ve been to his museum in Seattle, so I have some favoritism at play. My family was in town, and we did the combined museum and hot shop, which while fun and informative, was quite frankly not worth the cost and not as awesome as I was expecting. Also disappointing was the distance to the hot shop – it looked good on the map, but ended up a major schlep, and since we had our cars parked for the weekend at the hotel, it meant hassling with the trolley and a long walk. Bottom line: fine if you’re desperate for something to do, but be ready for the small size despite the «4^th largest collection» hype.

Beautiful glass collection. We did the guided tour. On the half hour. Lasts about 30 minutes. Our docent was a nice Italian lady. Her accent made it difficult to understand her descriptions of the glass, but eventually we adjusted. She was very nice and knowledgeable.

Glass installations and creations of this calibre deserve to be showcased in ways that really do the pieces justice.
The smartly designed Chihuly Collection gallery creates the ideal environment for showcasing the rich tones, intricate workmanship and stunning, detailed work permanently displayed here.
Sincere thanks to Tampa-​based, award-​winning architect Albert Alfonso for making this custom-​designed, exhibition space such a special place.
And appreciation to the artist, Dale Chihuly, whose vibrant, large-​scale art works are viewable here year round. What a treasure and what a pleasure this collection is to have in this community and to experience.
The dimly lighted, dramatically defined spaces made specifically for these featured art works command and demand your attention as you admire creations by this well known artist. The walk through winds around in a surprising manner that goes counter to the box-​like structure of most museums making the passage part of the fun as you «accidentally» come upon each discovery.
Throughout the year, various other glass artists from around the country are celebrated with exhibits of their work. These can be museum-​quality pieces or items on loan from private collectors that reveal surprising techniques, impressive talent and incredible beauty beyond the pieces representing Chihuly’s transcendent works.

I’ll say it up front: this is a small, small collection, but it samples many different forms in Chihuly’s oeuvre. What I love most about this space is that i was built with the collection in mind – come in on a quiet day, and this place can almost feel spiritual, it’s so beautiful. I’ve had the fortune of having this place nearly empty all to myself.
When I visited today, I got trapped behind quite a large tour group – fortunately the docent leading the tour spoke loudly enough that I felt I benefitted from it myself. Given the opportunity to formally take a tour with a smaller group, I would definitely do that. The docents know what they’re talking about and have a lot of great stories to tell about the pieces in the collection.
There is a temporary exhibition of Kait Rhodes’ sculptures right now. They’re beautiful and complement Chihuly’s work.
I do think for the size of the space, the admission price is a bit high, which is why I deduct a star. I did also have to park a few blocks away, so be prepared to scour the streets for parallel parking spots if you don’t want to pay for valet parking at the restaurant next door.

We made this a full day event by having brunch at The Birchwood then over to the collection. I enjoyed the beautiful works of art. I like that you are allowed to take pictures. I took plenty of pictures. I think we were having too much fun because I was told «shhhh «
We decided to pay the extra fee to see the glass blowing show at the Morean Glass shop, which was well worth it.
Parking is always something to think about when you visit Beach Drive/​downtown St. Pete.

I would have given this exhibit 4*‘s if I hadn’t been to the 5* Chihuly permanent exhibit in Seattle and been blown away by it’s huge exhibit that is both inside and outside in gorgeous gardens right under the Space Needle! The Seattle exhibit seemed 10x bigger, but I was told they believe that it is 4x bigger. I still think I’m closer to being correct. Check out the reviews & photos of Seattle online.
This exhibit is beautiful, and my friend (who hadn’t seen Chihuly before) thought that it was great. The woman who gave a free tour was a little too wordy about her personal life, and we got tired of standing in place. There are very few places to sit. There was also a lot of talking about a huge wood door that we had to enter through: it wasn’t even a fire door or hurricane proof!
The gift shop was nice, and I got a really nice Chihuly print reversible tote bag for $ 18, and another for a gift.
The $ 15 price seemed high, especially since I paid $ 21 for the much larger and better exhibit in Seattle in 2012.

Chihuly’s glass pieces are amazing, so I was looking forward to seeing the permanent collection of them at the Morean Arts Center. There were a number of pieces in a variety of styles, including chandeliers, vases, balls that appear to be floating (in this case, through the use of a black surface that reflects the shapes and colors of the pieces — these also appear under a few of the chandeliers), and a nice ceiling area covered with glass pieces that you get to walk beneath. I was personally most intrigued by an electrified blue piece that hung from the ceiling, buzzing, not having seen a piece in that style by Chihuly previously.
I have to say that when my group reached the end of the exhibit, our reaction was, «That’s it?!» We were having a great time exploring and wouldn’t have minded seeing more! Fortunately, there was a special exhibit by an artist who had worked with Chihuly, Kait Rhoads, out in the lobby, so we went to check out her pieces.
Docent tours are offered during the week. The store is a separate entrance (and also where you purchase tickets) and offers some niece pieces, as well. Parking is on the street, so you may want coins for the parking meters.
If you can go with a discount or on a discount day, do. It did seem a bit pricey for the size of the exhibit ($ 14.95 — be sure to bring your ID if you are a student or senior for a discount). Regardless, a beautiful exhibit!

My boyfriend and I made the trip to St. Pete on a day the Chihuly Collection was only charging $ 1 for admission — how could we say no?
The pieces in the collection are positively stunning. Being that up close and personal to some of Chihuly’s works was such a great experience. I’ve been to the Bellagio and was practically giddy being so much closer to a similar work!
I first became familiar with Dale Chihuly when I was making frequent trips with friends to the Borgata in Atlantic City. I was blown away by the beautiful glass sculptures unlike any I had seen before — bright, colorful, and different, the works at the Borgata became the main reason I’d visit the casino.
I’m really excited to have gotten to visit the collection, especially for such a great price. As others have pointed out, the space is quite small and the entire collection can be seen in about a half hour or less. I would love to see the collection expanded in the future!

We recently visited the Chihuly Collection for $ 1 each during a special museum day. Most museums were free; Chihuly was $ 1 and you received a Morean Arts center rubber bracelet. It was $ 2 well spent!
This collection is absolutely stunning. I have seen some Dave Chihuly pieces in pictures or online, but it is different seeing them in person. They really come to life sitting in front of you. I also recommend going to the «hot shop» at the Morean Arts Center at 714 1^st Ave N before going to this exhibit. You will learn about how glass blowing is done and how much work goes into these pieces. It allows you to truly appreciate this exhibit.
While this exhibit contains years of hard work, the exhibit is not huge. Most families will be done in 15 – 20 minutes after taking time to look at the pieces and take some pictures. I honestly think that the $ 15 price tag is too high (hence the 4 out of 5 stars).
You should also be aware that most of the pieces are within reach to be touched or knocked into. I would only bring children that are well behaved and can follow directions into this exhibit.
I think everyone should see this exhibit at least once. I would recommend looking for a deal if you can. I have noticed that they sometimes put discounts on Facebook, so follow them there. Chihuly is definitely on the Tampa area «must see» list.

Sunday — December 29, 2013 — 4 PM
I first encountered Dale Chihuly’s creations in the lobby of The Bellagio Hotel in 2001. I was amazed. I always wanted to see an exhibit featuring his work; enter St. Petersburg.
I paid the $ 14.95. The cashier indicated that a film was played throughout the day describing the Chihuly technique and philosophy. The film was informative but long. I retreated after about 30 minutes. I discovered that the entire film lasted 60 minutes.
Each room was carefully lit to expose the magnificent explosion of color. Shapes of all sizes challenges ones belief that these were glass and not assembly-​line plastic reproductions.
I struggle to mitigate the cost for an exhibit that realistically could be viewed within 30 minutes. Still, what’s $ 14.95 to view a sampling of beauty in the form of intricately colored glass.