6 museums of beautiful gardens
Famous artists’ statues can be viewed in two main locations: inside museums, and outside, in sculpture parks. Despite the fact that these locations are frequently distinct from one another, some organizations include both, which makes it simple to have 2 separate experiences during a single outing.
Are you curious about the locations of some of these double locations? Here, we offer six of the world’s top gallery statue parks, ranging from Cornwall’s shoreline to the warm south of France.
Stiftung Maeght (Saint-Paul-de-Vence)
The Fondation Maeght houses a magnificent collection of contemporary treasures and is tucked away close to the historic heart of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a charming village on the French Riviera. In contrast to its interior, which includes exhibition spaces, a library of art, and even a church, the location also has stunning, one-of-a-kind outdoor parks.
Outside, there is a main sculpture garden with pieces by artists like Jean Arp and Alexander Calder, and also a courtyard with appears to work by Alberto Giacometti, a “labyrinth” with whimsical pieces by Joan Miró, enormous mosaics by Marc Chagall and Pierre Tal Coat, a pool created by Georges Braque, and a mechanical waterfall by Pol Bury.
The Rodin Gallery (Paris)
One of the most significant artists in history is Auguste Rodin. The Musée Rodin in Paris, where the French artist was born and now resides, is home to a large portion of his most significant pieces.
Wandering around these grounds is the best way to explore Rodin’s body of work because they include both an interior area located in the Hôtel Biron (Rodin’s former workshop) and a huge, three-hectare sculpture park. Some of Rodin’s most significant works can be found outside, including The Gates of Hell, The Three Shades, and of course The Thinker, which is exquisitely displayed with a perspective of the Eiffel Tower.
The Sculpture Park of the National Museum (Washington DC)
It is not surprising that the National Museum of Art in Washington, DC, boasts a collection of top-notch sculptures given its status as “the nation’s gallery.” Due to their enormous sizes, the works have been displayed outside, leading to a stunning park that is only a short distance from the gallery.
What might be found in this outdoor area? The contemporary and modern exhibit, which has a permanent Calder artwork as its focal point, also includes pieces by Louise Bourgeois, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana, and now one of Hector Guimard’s famous Paris Metro entrances.
Sculpture Park and Gallery at the Hirshhorn (Washington DC)\
The Hirshhorn Gallery and Sculpture Park is right across the National Mall. This Smithsonian institution has 12,000 works of art, including 60 modern contemporary artworks that have been placed nearby.
Since its opening in 1974, this sculpture park has provided guests with an unparalleled opportunity to experience art, according to the organization. The diverse collection includes works by an astonishing cast of characters, from Rodin castings to a Yayoi Kusama Pumpkin. It will only get greater, as the gallery revealed plans to renovate this outdoor space earlier this year.
The Kröller-Müller Gallery’s Beadenpark (Otterlo)
Fans of the Post-Impressionist go to the Kröller-Müller Gallery in Otterlo, Netherlands, which houses the second-largest collection of Van Gogh artwork in the world. Nevertheless, the gallery also has an incredible collection of outdoor artworks in addition to hosting Van Gogh masterpieces like the Potato Eaters and Café Terrace at Night.
The sculpture park at the Kröller-Müller is one of the biggest in Europe, spanning 25 hectares. 160 works by well-known artists like Jean Dubuffet, Marta Pan, and Pierre Huyghe may be found here. This location’s forest backdrop is equally as alluring as the artwork, which alone is cause enough to go. According to the museum, “the surrounds induce sheer delight, of both artwork and nature.” The park is accessible all year round and emits a different atmosphere depending on the weather.
Gallery of Barbara Hepworth (St Ives)
In St Ives, a beach resort in Cornwall, during World War II, English artist Barbara Hepworth and other modern artists established an artist’s colony. She spent her entire life at Trewyn Studios, which is now home to the Barbara Hepworth Gallery and Sculpture Park.\
The gallery and park, which are managed by Tate, a network of significant art galleries in the UK, house the biggest collection of Hepworth’s creations, featuring an astonishing array of statues made of bronze, stone, and wood. The majority of the bronze sculptures are still in their original locations in Hepworth’s private garden, preserving the specific qualities that the artist associated with the location. She claimed that discovering Trewyn Studio was somewhat magical. This place had a studio, a yard, and a yard where I could work outside in the fresh air.