The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) has announced a spectacular two-year art program spotlighting contemporary creativity in harmony with nature following the record-breaking success of Van Gogh’s Flowers, which just opened to the public this spring 2025. NYBG announced the next headline event, the KAWS Garden-Wide Takeover, will transform NYBG’s 250-acre terrain with monumental sculptures and site-specific installations by the globally celebrated artist KAWS. Opening from May 22 to October 24, 2027, this presentation promises to ignite curiosity and captivate both loyal followers and new audiences . Visitors will encounter iconic KAWS figures—like the Companion—interlaced among winding pathways, lush gardens, and vibrant floral landscapes. The colorful, pop-infused art will create striking juxtapositions, inviting reflections on the interplay between human creativity and the living world. It will mark one of the NYBG’s most ambitious exhibitions to date, bringing larger-than-life emotional narratives to a botanical canvas.
KAWS—also known as Brian Donnelly—first burst onto the street-art scene in 1990s Brooklyn before earning international acclaim for his bold, cartoon-inspired characters and hard-edge paintings. His signature Companion figure, marked by expressive “X” eyes, has resonated across pop culture, fine art, and public installations in cities like Tokyo, New York, and London. At NYBG, KAWS oversized sculptures will be thoughtfully situated to interact with the Garden’s natural scenery—perching beside ponds, nestled in woodlands, and silhouetted against open skies. This outdoor approach builds on NYBG’s rich history of blending contemporary art with horticulture, following past standouts like Yayoi Kusama and Ebony G. Patterson.
The announcement also highlights upcoming exhibitions in 2026, including the immersive Flower Power in May, and the orchid extravaganza, Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle, in February. These themes weave together ecology, design, and social symbolism—one embracing horticultural celebrations of peace and love, the other showcasing floral artistry fused with the essence of New York City. NYBG’s CEO, Jennifer Bernstein, emphasized the Garden’s role as an open-air canvas, stating that these shows “illuminate the rich intersection of art and nature,” and offer visitors new creative ways to engage with its living collections. In addition, the holiday favorite, Holiday Train Show, returns in November 2025, adding warmth to the winter season before the bold art exhibitions begin.
To enhance public access, NYBG is offering a Two-Year Membership that includes unlimited garden visits, free admission to all exhibitions, early ticket access, and exclusive merchandise offers. This initiative broadens opportunities for art lovers and nature enthusiasts alike to experience the Garden’s evolving cultural landscape. As the 2027 KAWS takeover approaches, it only reaffirms NYBG’s robust execution of its mission to blend botanical beauty with cutting-edge artistry.