If you’re a fan of art then you’ll love these modern and contemporary sculpture parks and gardens. These outdoor art installations offer a way to experience culture and fresh air at the same.
Best Sculpture Parks Around the World
These cultural attractions are sure to make your bucket list. From modern art sculptures gardens to an underwater art installation that is unique, these are the best in the world. These green spaces are home to outdoor sculptures from international artists that create an unforgettable experience for art enthusiasts.
1. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Grand Rapids United States
Over 200 sculptures are displayed in this 158-acre botanical garden located in Grand Rapids Township. This permanent collection has one of largest collections of outdoor sculptures in the entire world.
Enjoy the works of Ai Wei Wei and Louise Bourgeois. Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, and Auguste Rodin are also worth a look. Every season, the backdrop of flowers and plants from around the globe is breathtaking.
Don’t miss Plantoir by Claes Oldenburg – a giant trowel sculpture designed to be exhibited in a garden. His wife Coosje Van Bruggen is known for transforming everyday objects into exceptional artworks.
Also, there are frequent temporary exhibitions that feature artists like Pablo Picasso and Mark di Suvero. At the James & Shirley Balk Café, you can see a striking glass chandelier by Dale Chihuly.
Address: 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, United States
2. Hakone Open Air Museum
Hakone, Japan
Hakone was the first open-air Japanese museum to be opened in 1969. Today, it’s home to more than 1,000 art works and sculptures.
Lake Ashinoko is the perfect backdrop for this magical scene. Hakone Open-Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest Henry Moore sculpture collections, covering 70,000 square meters.
The great sculptural artist are all represented in this outdoor museum, from Calder to Picasso and Rodin. There are many child-friendly art installations and a giant kid’s hammock, Woods of Net.
The Artwork Symphonic SculptureA tower of stained-glass is a highlight, as is La PleureuseBelow is a sculpture.
Address: 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0407, Japan
3. Storm King Art Center
New Windsor, United States
The open-air museum, named after the nearby Storm King Mountain in the Hudson Valley, has a stunning setting. Storm King has over 100 sculptures set out over 500 acres. It is the largest outdoor collection of artworks in America.
Spend 2 to 3 hrs walking around the grounds. The highlights include Storm King WavefieldA Maya Lin earthwork Three Legged Buddha Zhang Huan Storm King Wall Andy Goldsworthy Children (and their parents) will love the interactive exhibit. The interactive exhibit is a great way to engage children and adults alike. Momo Taro Isamo Naguchi. You can sing in the granite structure which has an aural resonant.
Storm King houses one of largest collections in the world of David Smith sculptures. The first metal was welded by this American Abstract Expressionist artist. He made geometric sculptures that were enormous.
There’s an open-air café and also the Storm King Museum Building which has 9 indoor galleries houses inside a French inspired chateau.
Address: 1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY 12553, United States
4. Vigeland Park
Oslo, Norway
This Oslo green space, formerly known as Vigeland Installation in Frogner Park is now known as Vigeland Park. The sculptures are made of bronze, granite, and iron by Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland.
Vigeland produced artworks between 1924 and 1944, which he donated to the city. The park is open 24/7 and has free admission.
The Angry Baby figurative sculptor, whose hand on the left is rubbed to bring good fortune, and The Monolith a contemporary sculpture that features 121 intertwined humans are two of the highlights.
Address: Nobels gate 32, 0268 Oslo, Norway
5. Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle, USA
The Olympic Sculpture Park, located next to the Seattle Art Museum since 2007, has attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. This 9-acre former industrial area is located near Puget Sound on the waterfront.
Among the sculpture park’s artworks, you’ll find The Eagle Alexander Calder’s work, which can be seen below. Eye Benches Louise Bourgeois Echo Jaume plensa’s sculpture of the head of a 9-year-old girl is also impressive.
Wake, a 300-ton steel Richard Serra sculpture was the first to be installed.
Address: 2901 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121, United States
6. Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Wakefield, UK
Yorkshire Sculpture Park has one of Europe’s largest collections Henry Moore bronzes, and is situated in 500 acres greenery. The permanent displays of contemporary and figurative artwork are complemented by some spectacular special exhibitions. Around 80 pieces are on display at all times.
Presently, two Barbara Hepworth works are on display. The Family of Man You can also find out more about the following: Square with Two Circles.
Figure Seated Sean Henry has created a sculpture that is so realistic, it could be mistaken from afar for a human being. Litter Leo Fitzmaurice’s piece looks like bunny-rabbits at a distance and is a commentary on consumerism.
There are four Damien Hirst works on display at the moment, including The Virgin MotherBelow. The Lower Lake is home to this ten-meter tall statue.
Address: West Bretton, Wakefield WF43 4LG, United Kingdom
7. Kröller-Müller Museum
Otterlo in Netherlands
Kroller Muller is home to the second-largest Van Gogh collection on the planet. It also boasts the largest sculpture park in Europe. Over 160 sculptures are scattered around the gardens. These include works by Marta Pan and AristideMaillol, as well as Pierre Huyghe.
This outdoor sculpture park, which covers 25 hectares of land, is open all year round. In the grounds, you’ll discover two pavilions from the 1960s by Aldo van Eyck and by Gerrit Rietveld.
Recently restored, Jardin d’Email is a monumental sculpture by Jean Dubuffet. Visitors can walk on it from 1 April to 1 November, as long as it’s not raining, when the artwork can be slippy.
Address: Houtkampweg 6, 6731 AW Otterlo, Netherlands
8. Ayia Napa Sculpture Park
Ayia Napa in Cyprus
Ayia-Napa Sculpture Garden, which opened in 2014, is spread out over 20,000 sqm. The park, which offers stunning views of Famagusta Bay and features artists from more than 50 countries, is spread over 20,000 square meters.
All of them have participated in the annual Sculpture Symposium organised by Agia-Napa Municipality. Part of the sculpture gardens is also the Park of Mediterranean Plants. Cacti and Succulents. It displays the various cacti of the island.
You can see the artists at work during the autumn and winter. You can admire artworks, such as Exiles Beata Rostas Last Human Michael Levchenko
Address: Kavo Gkreko, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
9. Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
New Orleans United States
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden features over 90 pieces of artwork. It is located next to the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park. This garden is special because of the mature landscape, which includes oak and pine trees. It’s located around two lagoons.
Cross the water via Mississippi MeandersThe Elyn Zimmerman-designed glass bridge. The colored lines show the Mississippi River’s changing course over time.
Address: 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA 700124, United States
10. The Tarot Garden
Capalbio, Italy
If you’re a fan of the French American sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle, you’ll love The Tarot Garden. This 14-acre sculpture garden is inspired by the Gardens of Bomarzo as well as Parc Guell and tarot.
The Capalbio Garden in Tuscany was first opened to the public on January 1, 1998. This is the first major sculpture park created by a women. It contains 22 statues.
Reinforced concrete is used to create the works of art, which are decorated with ceramics or mirrors. Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely, Niki’s husband, collaborated on some of the fountains.
Address: Str. Garavicchio, 2, 58011 Pescia Fiorentina GR, Italy
11. Inhotim Museum
Brumadinho, Brazil
Inhotim, or the Instituto De Arte Contemporânea E Jardim Botânico to give its full name, is one of the best sculpture parks in Latin America. More than 700 contemporary artworks are displayed in the museum as well as on the grounds.
Inhotim has an important botanical park with more than 5,000 species of plants. Inside the geodesic dome pictured below by Paula Zasnicoff Cardoso, there’s an installation by Matthew Barney, De Lama Lamina.
Magic Square #5 This collection also has a highlight. This six-panel series in vibrant colors gives the impression of a plaza.
Address: Rua B, 20 Fazenda Inhotim, Brumadinho – MG, 35460-000, Brazil
12. Sculpture at the Lakes
Dorchester (UK)
Sculpture by the Lakes, a stunning outdoor art installation in a serene 26-acre parkland of Dorset, is a beautiful place to visit. This enchanting place is the brainchild of Simon Gudgeon, a sculptor, and his wife Monique. It features more than 30 large-scale artworks.
Search for EnlightenmentBelow, you can see a pair of bronze sculptures that symbolise the vastness and length of time. The Gallery by the Lakes sells smaller sculptures by Simon, as well as other artists.
There’s a pleasant gallery cafe, currently operating as takeaway only and a spacious outdoor seating area.
Address: Pallington Lakes, Dorchester DT2 8QU, United Kingdom
13. Laumeier Sculpture Park
Sappington United States
Over 60 works of art are on display in this 105-acre sculpture park, open-air museum located in Sunset Hills. Eye Tony Tasset’s eyeball is made of fiberglass and resin. It stares the visitor in the face.
Laumeier Sculpture park has another interesting piece of artwork. Untitled Robert Morris. This set of stacking aluminum beams has a precision and a sense control. Intricate Wall Sol Lewitt’s series of cinderblocks is repeated in a way that looks like a maze, or a prison.
Address: 12580 Rott Rd, Sappington, MO 63127, United States
14. Naoshima Island
Naoshima Island, Japan
Naoshima Island, famous for its Yayoi Kusama Pumpkin sculptures and other noteworthy artworks, is also home to many other notable works of art. Benesse Art Site, located on the South Coast of the Island, is a beautiful place to visit. There are several interesting sculptures here including 5 works by Nikki de Saint Phalle and George Rickey’s artworks which move in the wind.
Around Miyanoura Port, you’ll see a large red pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama, as well as Naoshima Pavilion by Sou Fujimoto. It is made from 250 stainless steel pieces and represents the island. At night, it is illuminated.
Address: Naoshima, Naoshima-cho, Japan
15. Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park
Grenada
Here is something totally different: an underwater art installation. Although there are a few other underwater sculpture parks around the world, such as Museo Atlantico on Lanzarote (Spain) and Museo Subacuatico of Arte in Mexico, this one is still the original.
The first of sculptor and photographer Jason deCaires Taylor’s underwater projects, Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park is in a marine protected area of Grenada.
Over 800 square meters, there are 75 underwater art pieces. The good news for those who aren’t great scuba divers is that you can see them by snorkelling or from glass bottom boats too. Viccisitudes The image shows children holding hands as a sign of strength and unity.
The Lime Address, Grenada
16. The Donum Estate
Sonoma (United States)
The Donum Estate, founded in 2001, is a winery that has won numerous awards in Sonoma. The winery is known for its single vineyard Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and single appellation Pinot Noir, all produced in small lots.
Donum means Land as a gift It is the unique balance of land, wine, and art that makes this estate so special. Around the estate, there are over 40 large-scale art pieces.
Some have been designed to suit the terrain. The estate is home to sculptures created by Ai Weiwei and Doug Aitken, Keith Haring, Subodh Gupta, among others.
Address: 24500 Ramal Rd, Sonoma, CA 95476, United States
The deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
Lincoln United States
DeCordova is an outdoor sculpture park and contemporary art museum located in Lincoln Massachusetts. The museum features a wide range of contemporary and modern art including large-scale outdoor works set in a beautifully landscaped 30 acre sculpture park.
Visitors can see sculptures by Antony Gormley. Dorothy Dehner. Jaume Pessa, and others. The park is a destination for art lovers of all ages, as it hosts temporary exhibitions and educational programs.
The Best Sculpture Parks Around the World
There’s no better way to appreciate the scale and form of monumental sculpture than by visiting one of these renowned outdoor parks. These sculpture parks combine art with nature in North America, Europe and Asia.
And if you can’t make it to any of these sculpture garden locations, don’t worry – there are plenty of other ways to enjoy great art. Visit our other articles for even more inspiration!
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