Museum of Glass

Wednesday. February 4. 2026

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On our last day in Seattle, Little Kong and I decided to visit Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Ever since we visited Chihuly Garden and Glass, we had been completely fascinated by glass art, so we wanted to explore more works from different artists before we leave Seattle. The drive to Tacoma already felt exciting because it felt like we were heading somewhere special, and the museum itself looked stunning from the outside.

The building had such a modern and clean design, with huge windows and unique architecture that immediately caught our attention. Even before going inside, it already felt like part of the art experience.

As soon as we entered the museum, we were surprised by how many different styles of glass art were displayed throughout the galleries. Some pieces looked delicate and soft like flowers or underwater plants, while others were bold, colorful, and almost unreal. We saw glass sculptures inspired by sea creatures, nature, human figures, and even everyday objects like vases, but each artist interpreted them in such creative ways.

I loved how glass, which normally feels fragile and simple, could be transformed into something so dramatic and full of personality. Some artworks felt playful and dreamy, while others felt emotional or mysterious. Walking through each room felt calming because every piece had its own atmosphere and details to discover.

*“Bouton d'iris” by Daum Frères, also known as Daum Nancy*

“Vase with Aspen Grove from the Native Species series,” “Vessel with Vine Maple Leaves from the Native Species series,” “Vessel with Cedar Boughs and Cedar Cones from the Native Species series,” and “Vessel with Oak Leaves from the Native Species series” by William Morris

“Lilac Bouquet Orb with Honeybees,” “White Trillium Bouquet Orb with Honeybees,” “Pink Mountain Laurel Environmental,” “Flowers, Fruit, and Nuts with Honeybees Orb,” “Wheaton Arts Bouguet Orb,” “Morning Glory Orb with Bulbous Form,” and “Honeybee Swarm Orb” by Paul J. Stankard

*“Petticoat Daffodil” by Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora C. Mace*

*“Trout Lily” by Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora C. Mace*

*“Cadmium Orange Macchia Set with Windsor Emerald Lip Wrap” by Dale Chihuly*

*“Raw Sienna Macchia with Deep Red Lip Wrap” by Dale Chihuly*

*“Aurora Orange Basket Set with Night Black Lip Wrap” and “Black Basket Set with Cobalt Lip Wrap” by Dale Chihuly*

*“Dark Violet Eelgrass” by Dale Chihuly*

*From East to West "Sea Creatures' Container" by Hiroshi Yamano*

*“Each Unto Its Own from the Watertower series” by Jeremy Lepisto*

One of the most memorable parts of the visit was the live demonstration area called “Hot Shop.” Watching artists create glass art right in front of us was honestly mesmerizing. The room was filled with heat from the furnace, and it was amazing to see glowing melted glass being shaped so carefully with different tools. The artists worked together so smoothly, almost like a performance, and it made us realize how much skill and patience glass art requires. Seeing the process in person made us appreciate all the artworks in the museum even more because we could imagine how much effort went into every single piece.

Visiting the museum was such a perfect way to end our Seattle trip. It felt inspiring, relaxing, and visually beautiful all at once. Even after leaving, I kept thinking about how creative and limitless glass art can be, and it definitely made me want to explore more museums and art spaces in the future.

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Portland Art Museum I

Chihuly Garden and Glass