Sculpture in the Gardens at the Auckland Botanic Gardens
Sculpture in the Gardens is run by the Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens and is hosted by Auckland Botanic Gardens. Every second year Aotearoa New Zealand artists are selected to show works in the exhibition over summer. Artists exhibit outdoor sculptural works in the beautiful and well-attended setting of the Gardens. And an indoor gallery also allows displays of small works. There is also a permanent collection on display throughout the year.
The 2026–27 Exhibition
Meet the artists
Bill Devoy, Jane and Mario Downes, Gina Ferguson, Bev Goodwin & Jeff Thomson, David Maruariki, Fish Radich, Jamie Pickernell, Jessy Rauora Mete, Oliver Stretton-Pow, Jack Taylor, The Growth Industry Group, The Indigenous Clay Artists Collective (Todd Douglas, Karuna Douglas, Rhonda Halliday & Dorothy Waetford), Greg Tuthill, Riki Waugh, and James Wright.
Meet the curators
Terry Urbahn, Olivia Haddon and Linda Tyler bring their expertise to the 2026–27 exhibition and have selected 15 exciting artists/artist groups for this year’s show.
Cheryl Wright returns to curate the Huakaiwaka Indoor Gallery represents the artists who are exhibiting in the outdoor exhibition, artists who have previously exhibited outdoor and others by invitation
Some of the many winners from previous exhibitions:
2021 McConnell Family Supreme Award winner – The Indigenous Clay Artists Collective, Taiki e! United in Purpose!
2019 McConnell Family Supreme Award winner – Marté Szirmay, Contained and Protected
2013 McConnell Family Supreme Award winner – Louise Purvis, Alterations
About
Greg Tuthill, Nonagon Acorn, 2024
Sculpture in the Gardens is run by the Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens and hosted by Auckland Botanic Gardens. It is held every second summer.
Permanent Collection
Josh & Amelia Olley Hand Down, 2024.
Every day, whether the exhibition is on or if we are between exhibitions, there is art to enjoy with permanent collection sculptures displayed throughout the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
Auckland Botanic Gardens
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Our Permanent Collection
There is art to enjoy every day at the Auckland Botanic Gardens with permanent sculptures displayed within the plant collections. Grab a ‘Permanent Sculpture’ brochure from the Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre to plan your walk around them, or simply come across them as you wander.
South Lawn Jane Downes, BeeHaven, 2021, Edible Walled Garden.
Jim Wheeler, Object of Devotion, 2011. Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre.
Marté Szirmay, Seek, 2015. Rose Garden.
Past exhibitions
2024–25 Exhibition
The winning sculpture for the 2024–25 exhibition is Andrea Gardner & Brit Bunkley for their work Cenotaph for a Snail.
Our last outdoor exhibition was held in 2024–25. You can see more about all the artists who exhibited in this show, and who took out the awards.
2021–22 Exhibition
The winning sculpture for the 2021-22 exhibition was Taiki e! United in Purpose! by The Indigenous Clay Artists Collective
Our outdoor exhibition held in 2021–22. You can see more about all the artists who exhibited in this show, and who took out the awards.
Archive of all past exhibitions
Richard Mathieson, Reservoirs, 2021 – Part of the permanent collection.
Our digital archive captures the history of Sculpture in the Gardens and forms a useful resource for the wider art world. We have held exhibitions featuring local artists since the establishment of the event in 2007. This archive presents a complete list of artists exhibited from then.
Watch our videos
Learn more about the 2024–25 exhibition. You can also find videos about each of the artists in the exhibition, on their artist page and on our YouTube channel.