12 Free Sculpture Parks Around The World That Are Absolutely Magical

Do you love art but get claustrophobic in museums? The sculpture park is your answer! An incredible way to take in art that’s set in nature instead of a sterile gallery environment, these outdoor artistic havens are an opportunity to breathe fresh air, lounge on the grass and enrich yourself with beautiful art all at the same time. From Seattle to New Zealand, here are 12 free sculpture parks all around the world that are truly not be missed.

1. Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Art Gallery, Museum, Park

Wilsis by Jaume Plensa a tall cast-iron sculpture of a girls face Yorkshire Sculpture Park YSP West Bretton Wake?eld Yorkshire England UK GB Europe

The first and premiere sculpture park in the UK, and the largest in Europe, YSP is open every day of the year except for Christmas Even and Christmas Day. It is set on 500 acres of land and aside from its impressive permanent collections also presents a series of stellar temporary exhibitions all throughout the year. Artists exhibited at YSP include Ai Weiwei, Henry Moore and James Turrell amongst a myriad of other art world greats.

2. Middleheim Open Air Sculpture Museum

Museum, Park

ANTWERP, BELGIUM - JULY 5, 2016 : Art sculptures and park in Middelheim Park. Middelheim Open Air Sculpture Museum is popular place where modern and c

This beautiful spot in Antwerp is open everyday except Mondays and few public holidays and is entirely dedicated to outdoor sculpture. Dogs and food are welcome in this free haven, so bring a picnic and take in some truly incredible artwork.

3. Socrates Sculpture Park

Park, Museum, Cinema, Market

Couple viewing a contemporary art installation at Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria, Queens, New York.

Hosting an artist’s residency, community events, educational activities, movie screenings and, of course, exceptional sculpture, this New York City, open-air gallery and public park is open every single day of the year from 9am to sunset.

4. Ekebergparken

Ekebergparken | © Ivar Kvaal / Ekebergparken

5. Lough Boora Discovery Park

Park

Specialising in land-based and environmental sculptures, this Irish paradise is home to 24 innovative artworks and can be enjoyed 365 days a year.

6. Olympic Sculpture Park

Museum, Park

Alex Calder’s ‘Eagle’ (1971) is the centrepiece of the Olympic Sculpture Park

Part of the prestigious Seattle Art Museum, Olympic Sculpture Park overlooks the Space Needle and is open 365 days a year from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for your sculptural enjoyment.

7. Domaine du Muy

Park

Guillaume Leblon, Population Sommaire, 2010

Located in Provence, France this contemporary sculpture park is a paradise of art and nature.

8. Austrian Sculpture Park

Park, Museum

Part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum, the park is open daily from 24th March until 31st October and includes 72 stunning sculptures including Painting to Hammer a Nail In / Cross Version(2005) by none other than Yoko Ono.

9. Laumeier Sculpture Park

Museum, Park

The Way Sculpture by Alexander Liberman in Laumeier Sculpture Park in St Louis, MO

Founded in 1976, Laumeier is amongst the first and largest sculpture parks in the United States. It is open 365 days a year providing not only an outdoor museum experience but many educational programmes as well.

10. Frieze Sculpture Park

Park

john-chamberlain-fiddlersfortune-2010-presented-by-gagosian-frieze-sculpture-2017-photo-stephen-white

This posh sculpture park takes over Regent’s Park yearly during London’s most prestigious art fair, Frieze. Unlike the fair, entrance to the sculpture park is entirely free and presents a great opportunity to see large-scale innovative contemporary art with a side of the best Instagram stories.

11. Cantor Arts Center Outdoor Collection

Museum, University

The Auguste Rodin sculpture garden at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Stanford University CA

Located on the Stanford University campus, Cantor is home one of the largest collections of Auguste Rodin sculptures on the planet.

12. Gibbs Farm

Art Gallery, Park

GIBBS FARM of giant sculptures by various international artists in rural farm setting at Kaipara Harbour New Zealand

With its landscape dominated by Kaipara Harbour, the largest harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, Gibbs Farm in North Auckland is a truly unique sculpture park. Its impressive collection includes work by Anish Kapoor, Sol LeWitt and Richard Serra, among others. It is open by appointment only so be sure to check the website before your visit.

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