The 2026–27 Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition
Free sculpture spectacular returns to Auckland Botanic Gardens for 10th anniversary. Opens 14 November.
Art, sculpture and garden lovers are in for a real treat as preparations get under way for Sculpture in the Gardens 10th exhibition to be held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, opening on 14 November. The scope of the artworks for the decade-marking event became clear after the 15 selected artists met with commissioned engineers and Auckland Botanic Gardens installation teams during a working day held at the gardens earlier this month.
Our artists
The successful artists for the 2026–27 Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition are:
As shown above: James Wright, Richard Mathieson (The Growth Industry Group), Oliver Stretton-Pow, Andrew de Boer (The Growth Industry Group), Greg Tuthill, Jack Taylor, Bill Devoy, Gina Ferguson, Mario Downes, David Maruariki, Fish Radich, Jane Downes, Riki Waugh, Todd Douglas and Karuna Douglas (The Indigenous Clay Artists Collective), Jessy Rauora Mete, Rhonda Halliday (The Indigenous Clay Artists Collective), Jamie Pickernell, Dorothy Waetford (The Indigenous Clay Artists Collective).
Absent: Bev Goodwin & Jeff Thomson
Stay tuned for more information on each of our artists soon…
Our curators
This year’s exhibition curators are Terry Urbahn, Olivia Haddon and Linda Tyler. They say visitors can expect an exhibition on a scale not seen before.
“Meeting with the artists and talking about their proposed sculptures during the Working Day has left the three of us breathless in anticipation!” says Ms Tyler. “Each artist’s work is ambitious. They’re all wanting to make the tenth anniversary of the exhibition as special as we do. The artists come from all over New Zealand and were carefully selected for the unique and intriguing sculptures they will create for the enjoyment of visitors to the Auckland Botanic Gardens.”
“Many of the artists are well known and award-winning, while others are earlier in their careers. There’s a terrific mix of crowd favourites who have exhibited at previous events, and others offering fresh and exciting new perspectives,” she says.
More than 370,000 people saw the 2024 exhibition, an increase of 20,000 on the previous event.
Auckland Botanic Gardens manager Bec Stanley says she is looking forward to hosting the landmark biennial exhibition. “What excites us most about Sculpture in the Gardens is seeing how each artist responds to the landscape, our collections, and the work we do as a Botanic Garden. Their sculptures settle into the environment over summer and become part of the living, growing experience here.
“It’s always rewarding to see visitors discovering something new in a familiar place. The exhibition brings fresh perspectives into the garden, and that sense of curiosity is exactly what we hope to nurture.”
Sculpture in the Gardens is grateful for the support of Auckland Council, Friends of the Botanic Gardens and for the generosity of its sponsors and patrons. It is a free, non-ticketed event.
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