5 Museums And Gardens Where You Can See Amazing Sculptures

From life-size statues to small wood carvings, sculptures can take many forms and express their subjects with meticulous realism or intrigue their audiences with abstract shapes. And since some are made of durable materials, they can be displayed in outdoor spaces like gardens as well as in museums. If you're interested in viewing some well-crafted sculptures, consider visiting the places listed here. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Places Where Amazing Sculptures Are On Display

Organization Location
The Sculpture Center Cleveland, OH
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens West Palm Beach, FL
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum Lincoln, MA
Unison Arts Center and Sculpture Garden New Paltz, NY
Laumeier Sculpture Park Saint Louis, MO

Tips For Being More Creative

  • Ask questions
  • Learn to sculpt clay or wood
  • Bring a sketch pad with you when you go out
  • Make time to play, no matter how old you get
  • Keep a journal
  • Learn more about any topic you find interesting
  • Hang art in your home and put up outdoor sculptures if you have a yard
  • Don't be afraid to take risks
  • Carry a camera with you
  • Do something creative every day, even if it's small

8 Great Films About Art

  1. Frida (2002)
  2. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
  3. Rent (2005)
  4. Dead Poets Society (1989)
  5. Moulin Rouge (1952)
  6. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
  7. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
  8. Loving Vincent (2017)
  • Pottery
  • Wood
  • Glass
  • Metal
  • Stone
  • Acrylics
  • Ice

Watch A Masterpiece Emerge From A Solid Block Of Stone

In Depth

Sculptures are unique art forms for many reasons, from their three-dimensional composition to their capacity to be made out of a wide range of materials. They're also special because they can be exhibited in a diversity of indoor and outdoor settings, which can have a powerful effect on the overall viewing experience. The organizations included on this list attest to that fact, taking advantage of all the ways the medium can be enhanced by innovative displays and beautiful natural surroundings. Encompassing breathtaking gardens and museums, here are, in no particular order, five great places to see incredible sculptures.

Showing up at #1 is The Sculpture Center. Established in 1989 by Cleveland artist David E. Davis, this Ohio-based organization is devoted to nurturing the careers of the region's burgeoning sculptors, as well as ensuring the conservation of public outdoor displays. It exhibits the finest quality contemporary works by artists at all career levels, whom audiences can interact with at free openings and panels. Representing many surrounding states, the center's exhibitions feature an array of installations, performances, and mixed media pieces.

To promote the accessibility and value of outdoor artwork, the center maintains a free online inventory that surveys all the public sculptures throughout Ohio. The comprehensive website, which serves as a reference tool as well as a catalyst for aesthetic appreciation, includes historical data, photographs, and a map of sculpture locations. The organization also offers a networking and teaching resource designed to foster collaborations between arts institutions, and ultimately increase the exposure of three-dimensional works. Help sustain the center's mission by making a donation through its site.

To promote the accessibility and value of outdoor artwork, the center maintains a free online inventory that surveys all the public sculptures throughout Ohio.

For #2 we have the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. Located on Norton's historic former property in West Palm Beach, this foundation provides access to over one hundred works by the renowned sculptor throughout her home and gardens. Visitors can see Norton's diverse wood, stone, and bronze structures in her studio, as well as her nine monumental outdoor sculptures situated amidst 250 rare species of palm trees. The organization is also dedicated to supporting the careers of other artists, and holds exhibitions that showcase their work.

Embracing Norton's wish that her residence be left for the benefit of the community, the foundation offers a number of educational programs and social events that foster public cultural engagement. Its tours enlighten visitors about the artist's life and work, and give them opportunities to experience the intersection of art and the natural environment in a tranquil, creatively enriching space. Support the foundation by becoming a member of the Gardens Conservancy, a stewardship program designed to preserve the property grounds and support continuing horticultural education.

Coming in at #3 is deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Spanning thirty acres of lush woodlands in Lincoln, Massachusetts, deCordova offers a consistently evolving landscape of large-scale modern sculptures, as well as an indoor collection of rotating exhibits. Its park, which features over sixty sculptures derived from collections, loans, and commissions, includes works by many important artists from the 20th and 21st centuries. To cultivate a deeper engagement with the art on display, the organization hosts a bevy of programs that enrich visitors of all ages through experiential learning.

Its park, which features over sixty sculptures derived from collections, loans, and commissions, includes works by many important artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Bringing the public closer to its art, deCordova offers guided, self-guided, and multisensory touch tours, as well as snowshoe tours during the winter. Public programs include interactive performances, discussions, lectures, and readings, many of which allow audiences to engage with and learn from curators and exhibiting artists. A variety of family programs let kids explore different craft materials, while summer sessions in the park give all visitors a chance to collaborate on building temporary structures inspired by the work on view around them. Make a gift to the organization's annual fund to keep its operations running, or volunteer as a museum docent.

For #4 we get Unison Arts Center and Sculpture Garden. Committed to enhancing the culture of New York's Mid-Hudson Valley through artistic engagement, Unison provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere where the public can experience an assortment of creative exhibits, performances, and community activities. Among its most significant features is its five-acre sculpture garden, which is open year-round with free admission. Filled with a diversity of aesthetic styles, the garden boasts the work of both seasoned and emerging contemporary artists.

Unison's garden exhibits take dazzling advantage of the environment, with art pieces situated in the surrounding woods and meadows among an abundance of foliage and rocks. Visitors are invited to venture down winding paths that open onto a large field of wildflowers, and are encouraged to bring picnics while exploring the area. In addition to the sculptures on display, Unison offers a host of hands-on workshops, classes, and music series that facilitate a more intimate connection with the creative process. Support the organization and the communities it serves by joining at your chosen membership level.

Unison's garden exhibits take dazzling advantage of the environment, with art pieces situated in the surrounding woods and meadows among an abundance of foliage and rocks.

Finally, arriving at #5 is Laumeier Sculpture Park, which is located in St. Louis, Missouri. One of the nation's largest parks dedicated to sculpture, the world-renowned Laumeier showcases sixty large-scale outdoor works throughout a 105-acre park. Providing free daily admission, it serves hundreds of thousands of visitors ever year through events, educational programs, and changing exhibitions. All of its offerings are intended to engage and inspire the community through the combination of nature and art.

Created by a litany of globally acclaimed artists, the sculptures displayed at Laumeier are made from sundry materials such as steel, bronze, concrete, foliage, and all kinds of innovative mixed media. The park offers visitors a number of pathways and hiking trails to view them, and supplies maps online and at the kiosk near its main entrance to assist with navigation. Designed to promote interactive engagement with the art pieces and the environment, guided walking tours are available for both individuals and school and community groups. To help Laumeier maintain its collections, consider virtually adopting one of its sculptures by making a cash contribution.