KAWS will transform the New York Botanical Garden with colorful, graffiti-inspired artworks
NYBG announced that it will bloom with a very special exhibition in 2027: a full, 250-acre takeover by Brooklyn-based artist KAWS, debuting May 22, 2027. Known for his pop culture-inspired sculptures, KAWS (aka Brian Donnelly) will present an outdoor installation of enormous proportions, turning the iconic Bronx gardens into a collision of nature and contemporary art.
KAWS' work seems especially suited for NYBG, with his sly, gigantic takes on figures like The Simpsons and Snoopy, plus his famous Companions series, inspired by Mickey Mouse (and a year spent as a Disney animator) and threaded throughout his career as both paintings and three-dimensional sculptures. The melancholy of the figures, with their gloved hands and X'd out eyes, will no doubt feel even more powerful against the idyllic natural backdrop.
NYBG has long held a reputation for creating opportunities for artists to engage in dialogue with its landscape, including landmark exhibitions by Yayoi Kusama and Ebony G. Patterson. Now KAWS will continue this tradition, inviting visitors to consider how human-made objects inhabit, disrupt, or enhance their environment.
The Garden also announced a 2026 exhibit, Flower Power, opening May 23, 2026, and channeling the '60s with a celebration of the flowers as symbols of peace and love. The gallery exhibit will include photography and art from the 1960s, as well as installations throughout the grounds. Other upcoming exhibits include the beloved annual tradition, Holiday Train Show (November 15, 2025–January 11, 2026), and The Orchid Show: Mr Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle (February 7–April 26, 2026).
Additionally, NYBG revealed that it will begin offering a new two-year membership option, which will include unlimited access and early entry to future exhibitions. No word yet on when tickets for the KAWS exhibit will go on sale, but NYBG members will receive priority access.
Currently, the NYBG hosts the exhibit Van Gogh's Flowers, pairing his paintings with contemporary interpretations and living installations, including a field of real and sculptural sunflowers from French artist Cyril Lancelin. That remains on view through October 26.
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