Bestoff Sculpture Garden

One of the best treats in New Orleans is a visit to the Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Gardens in City Park.

Bestoff Sculpture Garden entry wall of grey stone

Welcome to the Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden in New Orleans City Park

Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Steve and I had first visited the sculpture gardens on our second visit to New Orleans way back in 2006. We were enthralled back then. It was much smaller. Now the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden occupies approximately eleven acres in City Park. It sits adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art which we have yet to visit. Maybe next trip.

A steel tower Sculpture at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Karma by Korean artist Do-Ho Suh of brushed stainless steel

A steel tower sculpture of people on top of one another at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Hopefully this angle gives you an idea of just how huge Karma is!

An atypical Sculpture garden

This is not your typical sculpture garden. This garden is located within a mature existing landscape of pines, magnolias and live oaks surrounding two lagoons. The garden design creates outdoor viewing spaces within this picturesque landscape. The Besthoff Sculpture Garden was conceived in 2003 and doubled in size last year. It has grown from its inception to include more than 90 sculptures, most of them donated to NOMA by the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation, by renowned artists from around the world, set within a picturesque landscape of native Louisiana trees and plants.

A bronze sculpture of a man hanging upside down at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Traveling Light, bronze by American artist Alison Saar

A copper Sculpture at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Acme, a copper sculpture by Brazilian born American artist Saint Clair Cemin

Artists featured

Artists featured in the expansion include Larry Bell, Tony Cragg, Johan Creten, Katharina Fritsch, Frank Gehry, Jeppe Hein, and Georg Herold. Also Thomas Houseago, Shirazeh Houshiary, Baltasar Lobo, Robert Longo, and Gerold Miller. In addition Beverly Pepper, Pedro Reyes, George Rickey, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Sean Scully, and Yinka Shonibare. Plus Frank Stella, Hank Willis Thomas, Bernar Venet, and Fred Wilson. Three works were commissioned for the site: a 60-foot-long mosaic wall by artist Teresita Fernández, a glass bridge by Elyn Zimmerman, and an installation by Maya Lin inside the Sculpture Pavilion.

An oval steel sculpture at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

This untitled stainless steel sculpture by Anish Kapoor, an Indian born British artist, is so cool. The red in the sculpture is Steve’s shirt reflected in it.

A sculpture of 4 warriors and a man in a red tee shirt at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Riace Warriors, I, II, III, IV and Steve; a patinated bronze by Brit Elisabeth Frink

This is by far the most extensive, innovative and beautiful sculpture gardens that we have ever visited.

A steel sculpture of a seated person made of letters at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Overflow by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa

A huge safety pin sculpture with blue head at the Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Corridor Pin, Blue by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

Fabulous experience

The day we went was picture perfect. We literally spent hours wandering through the gardens, through tunnels and over glass bridges. But I think the very best way to share this wonderful experience with you is through our photos. So I am sharing what Steve and I feel were our favorites.