What's New at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden
The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) announced its celebration for the 20th anniversary of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
Ranking as one of the top sculpture gardens in the country, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden showcases all kinds of unique art from the 19th century up to present day. On top of all the beautiful art the garden exhibits, it is free to the public and open everyday of the week. The museum will host a festival in the fall to celebrate the wonderful exhibits it has to offer, including the Besthoff Sculpture Garden and its newest additions.
In November of 2003, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened. In namesake of Walda and Sydney J. Besthoff III, Sydney was a successful New Orleans businessman, philanthropist, and a member of NOMA's board of trustees in 1992. Not long after his appointment to the Board of Trustees, he began formulating the idea of a sculpture garden. The idea came true, and now the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
With its beautiful sculptures and exotic architecture, it is no surprise that it was named the top sculpture garden in the country by USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice poll in 2022. The 12-acre garden exhibits around 100 sculptures and outdoor works from artists all over the world. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Garden & Gun, and Coveteur have all featured the sculpture garden in their publications. As the garden has gained much traction over the years, they have decided to expand the sculpture garden, adding new major works.
Maybe (Not) by Elmgreen & Dragset
World-renowned artists Elmgreen & Dragset have a new sculpture titled Maybe (Not) that will be added to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden in 2024. This massive 18-foot-tall sculpture of a diving board emerging from the waters with two figures on top will be featured. The theme of swimming pools and diving boards is a recurring symbol to the duo. It holds a two-fold meaning: the decline of public spaces where humans interact and the vulnerability of humans exposing themselves to one another at public pools.
Fallen Sky by Sarah Sze
A new work from Sarah Sze's Fallen Sky collection will also be added to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. A 12-foot-wide sphere-like structure will be planted in the landscape with pieces of mirrored stainless steel to create a reflection of the surroundings. Sze's works have been highlighted by The New York Time's "Best Art of 2023."
All of the new and exciting artwork will be highlighted by Phaidon's Monacelli, which includes a collection of books that focus on interior design, architecture, photography, and different art forms. The new catalog will be published in the fall of 2024 and focus on the Besthoff Sculpture Garden's history and collections.
For more information about NOMA and its newest exhibits, check out the New Orleans Museum of Art.
