By Ashleigh McCurdy / @Life_DesignedByAshleigh

There are moments in my work that feel less like assignments and more like access to legacy, brilliance, and a whole new world. My recent visit to the private boathouse gallery of legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly was exactly that.

Nestled along Lake Union, Chihuly’s space is like a living archive, part gallery, part sanctuary, part creative laboratory. It’s where art, history, and imagination coexist effortlessly. And on this particular day, it became the setting for an intimate conversation with Leslie Chihuly, President and CEO of Chihuly Studio and Dale’s wife, as she reflected on a 32-year journey of art, partnership, and global impact.

A Love Story Rooted in Art

Before the global exhibitions, before the upcoming Chihuly exhibition in Venice, before the monumental installations, there was the moment when Leslie first met Dale 30 years ago.

“I had never heard of Dale when I met him,” Leslie shared candidly. “But I remember thinking, this is the most fascinating person I’ve ever met.”

What began as a connection over shared creative interests, film, storytelling, and exploration quickly evolved into something much greater: a partnership, shared vision, and life built around art.

Over the past three decades, Leslie and Dale have not only built an internationally recognized body of work but an entire ecosystem of artists, collaborators, and cultural institutions around the world.

“It’s this very beautiful, rich life,” she reflected. Listening to her speak, you realize, this isn’t just a business, but a living, breathing creative legacy forming in real time.

The Art of Partnership

What makes the Chihuly story so compelling, beyond the glorious glass pieces, is the way the couple’s legacy was built. There is no rigidity or traditional blueprint here. Instead, there is freedom.

“We’ve given each other the freedom to be who we are,” Leslie explained. “We choose this life every day.”

That freedom is balanced by something equally powerful: respect. Whether it be for each other’s process, space, or evolution, the feeling, Leslie said, was deeply mutual. It’s a dynamic that allows creativity to thrive without constraint and feels deeply relevant in today’s world, where collaboration often struggles to find that balance.

Inside the Boathouse

Walking through the boathouse gallery felt like stepping inside the mind of an artist who has spent decades pushing the limits of material and form. Every piece tells a story.

From intricate glass installations inspired by woven baskets and textiles to bold chandelier forms born from experimentation across continents to the delicate layering of color, light, and texture seen in the Ikebana series, Dale’s work seems to be constantly evolving.

Glass, as Leslie shared, is particularly unique as a medium.

“It does something that no other material can do,” she said. “When you see it at scale, when it interacts with architecture, water, light, and air, it can become an experience in and of itself.”

Venice 2026: A Moment of Amazement

The upcoming CHIHULY: Venice 2026 exhibition opens May 5 and lasts through November 14, 2026, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the landmark Chihuly Over Venice project. When asked to describe the exhibition in one word, Leslie didn’t hesitate:

“Amazement,” she said simply.

And it’s easy to understand why. The exhibition will feature three monumental sculptures installed along the Grand Canal, set against the historic backdrop of Venice, a city that has long held deep significance in Chihuly’s work.

But this isn’t about revisiting the past. “We’re not trying to recreate, we’re trying to move forward,” Leslie said.

That forward motion is what makes this moment so powerful. It’s a continuation and celebration of Dale and Leslie’s legacy, while simultaneously redefining it.

Art That Lives Beyond the Moment

One of the most striking things Leslie shared was about memory. She spoke about recently walking through Venice and still seeing the ghosts of past installations in her mind, and the way art imprints itself on space, long after it’s gone.

“I think people will always imagine those sculptures there,” she said. That’s the true power of Dale’s work: it doesn’t just exist in a moment, but stays within you.

What’s Next?

As the world looks ahead to Venice 2026, one thing is certain: the upcoming exhibition is a global moment in art. If my conversation with Leslie was any indication, it’s going to be unforgettable.

Stay connected with The Sanctuary for exclusive cultural features, behind-the-scenes access, and curated experiences from around the world on the Converge Media Blog.

Learn more about CHIHULY: Venice 2026 here.

Inside the World of Chihuly: A Conversation with Leslie Chihuly Ahead of Venice 2026

PREVIEW: From Bras for Girls to Dignity for Divas: Community, Culture, and Impact in Seattle on Back2Besa