This New, Instagrammable Exhibit in the Arizona Desert Features Gorgeous, Glass-blown Structures

Tall, slender, leaf-like glass forms ascend from the sandy ground among cacti and aloe plants, adding bright pops of lilac to the desert landscape. That's the scene that greets you at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, where glass-blowing artist Dale Chihuly is currently displaying his large-scale work, "Neodymium Reeds, 2021." The installation is part of a historic, two-part exhibition, taking place simultaneously in the Valley of the Sun and Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The exhibit, "Chihuly in the Desert," marks the first time works by these two American masters, one of art and the other of architecture, interact in the same environment. The 80-year-old Chihuly made a name for himself over the last five decades with his distinct style that includes wondrous glass-blown shapes in saturated colors inspired by nature.

The new exhibition integrates large- and small-scale glass sculptures, some of them never shown before, nestled among the lawns and trails of the Desert Botanical Garden and the institution's Dorrance Hall.

"Chihuly in the Desert" at Taliesin West is focused on pairing the artist's work with that of Lloyd Wright, who lived and worked in the house, in a dialogue that showcases the interaction of art, nature, and architecture. The installations include the striking "Red Reeds and Niijima Floats" displayed in the Front Pond.

"I'm thrilled to share my work with visitors of these iconic locations," said Chihuly in a statement released to Travel + Leisure. "Returning to Desert Botanical Garden and presenting my work for the first time at Taliesin West is a special moment for me, and I hope those who see the exhibition will experience something beautiful and unexpected."

Chihuly's work has been exhibited in more than 200 museums worldwide, including the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, where the artist's studio is based.

The exhibition will run until Jun. 19, 2022, and tickets for both locations can be purchased on chihulyinthedesert.org.