A custom blown-glass sculpture by internationally recognized artist Dale Chihuly will be permanently installed at Round Rock’s Arts Center in the Griffith Building following City Council approval.

The action taken

City Council approved a $360,000 contract with Chihuly Studio to design and assemble a site-specific artwork. The sculpture will be designed as a glass chandelier measuring approximately nine feet tall and six feet wide.

Forging is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with a full mock-up expected in the spring and final installation planned for fall 2026.

The Arts Center will share space with the Round Rock Visitor Center and the Round Rock Chamber. Sara Bustilloz, the city’s communications and marketing director, said pairing the new Griffith Building with the sculpture is expected to increase foot traffic downtown.

“We think having this piece will absolutely turn heads in the art world and allow success to follow success,” Bustilloz said.

The total contract cost will be initially covered through city financing and later repaid using hotel occupancy tax revenue, which is generated by visitors staying in Round Rock hotels.

Some context

Chihuly is an internationally recognized American artist known for immense, vividly colored blown-glass sculptures and immersive installations.

His work has been exhibited in major museums, botanical gardens and public spaces around the world, including the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, installations at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and exhibitions at institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.