Sculpture in the Gardens 2024–25 at the Auckland Botanic Gardens

NOW OPEN

Fifteen stunning large scale works throughout the gardens

Supported by Auckland Council and The Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens, this free event is a great opportunity to see large-scale works from some of Aotearoa’s leading sculptors on a 2km sculpture trail throughout the Gardens. Open until 2 March 2025.

Vote for your favourite work in the Burrill People’s Choice Award

Jane Downes’ Self Seeded.

Oriah Rapley’s Spirits Flight.

Jamie Pickernell’s Moo.

Also open

Huakaiwaka Indoor Gallery

Offering a varied range of medium and small scale sculpture from the artists exhibiting in the outdoor show, as well as work from previous exhibitors and invited guest artists from all over Aotearoa.

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.

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About

Samantha Lissette, Rose Cathedral (detail), 2008.

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

Jamie Pickernell, Bird Lady, 2012.

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

Find out about the beautiful Auckland Botanic Gardens, the onsite Cafe Miko, the plant collections, other events and more…

Past exhibitions

Holding Ground Exhibition, 2023–24

Lucy Bucknall, Sky Gazers, 2023.

Holding Ground is a free indoor sculpture exhibition held in 2023, featuring 47 works by some of New Zealand’s best and most loved artists.

2021–22 Exhibition

The winning sculpture for the 2021-2022 exhibition was Taiki e! United in Purpose! by The Indigenous Clay Artists Collective

Our last outdoor exhibition was 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, 2021Part 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.