The Extraordinary van Gogh Exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden
The van Gogh exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens is a brilliant installation that showcases the enigmatic artist’s iconic flower paintings amidst the beauty of the 250-acre park, a National Historic Landmark.
I was invited to a media preview of the exhibit and left dazzled by the work of the contemporary artists who brought van Gogh’s flowers to life, along with the park’s horticulturists, scientists, and educators. The team transformed the garden into another masterpiece.
The colorful show, Van Gogh’s Flowers, will be displayed at the NYBG in the Bronx from May 24th to October 26th, 2025. This window offers ample time for tourists and residents of the New York City metropolitan area to visit this not-to-be-missed exhibit.
What You’ll See at the van Gogh Exhibit
Complementing amazing plant and floral displays, the van Gogh exhibit includes paintings, sculptures and large-scale contemporary installations, both inside and around the stunning Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. (This Victorian-style greenhouse is a centerpiece of the park.)
As you enter this living museum, you will notice a floral artist’s palette, almost pointing the way to the van Gogh exhibit.
The massive “His Flowers in the Round,” by Lee Baker and Catherine Borowski of Graphic Rewilding, is down the path and just within eye’s view. It’s made of steel and painted aluminum, enticing you to see it up close.
Pyramid Sunflower
Cyril Lancelin, a visual artist from Lyon, France, created the “Pyramid Sunflower” installation just outside the conservatory. This virtual maze features oversized sunflowers, some reaching as high as 12 feet in height.
Visitors are welcome to wander around and through the incredibly photogenic kinetic sunflower sculptures, which can move with the sun just like the 32 varieties of real, living sunflowers on display on the lawn around them.
Yellow Columns
Entering the conservatory is an installation called “Yellow Columns,” a striking display reminiscent of the artist’s portraits of irises painted in an asylum in Saint Remy-de-Provence. Even the floor in front of it has a painted carpet of lilies, almost like a welcome mat.
This extraordinary work is characteristic of Graphic Rewilding’s public art, which emphasizes the use of painted flowers in urban environments where green space is lacking.
Sculptures of van Gogh’s Flowers
Artist and sculptor Amie J. Jacobsen has transformed van Gogh’s flowers into four floral sculptures. Each one is hand-painted with brush strokes and inspired by a specific painting. She explained the joy of creating them in response to paintings that responded to nature.
Jacobsen is known for her public and private art that draws from natural landscapes.
Van Gogh’s Garden
The most poignant element for me was the representation of the garden from the hospital in Arles, where Van Gogh had another mental health crisis. Despite his illness, we learn that it was an extremely productive period for the artist who painted his visions of the garden.
The exhibit includes a garden of live flowers and boxwoods, depicting the one in Arles, with architectural elements and a fountain. Surrounding it (and elsewhere in the exhibit) is artful signage explaining the artist’s work and frame of mind. The painting includes twisted dark trees reflecting his distress and cheerful flowers, suggestive of healing.
Reimagined Gift Shop Offerings
Call me a sucker, but I always love to browse gift shops. The NYBG gift shop features a curated collection of van Gogh-inspired gifts and souvenirs likely to appeal to art enthusiasts and nature lovers. These items offer a tangible souvenir of a memorable visit.
The van Gogh Playlist
Music is another essential element of the show. Inside the conservatory and outside on the lawn, French jazz and classical recordings fill the air, transporting visitors to a cafe or bistro in the south of France. You’ll be humming the tunes as you leave.
A Transformative Exhibit
Each floral exhibit I’ve attended at the NYBG outdoes the previous one.
This multimedia show is a creative fusion of art and nature that opens new opportunities to thoughtfully examine Van Gogh, his passions, mental health struggles, and artistic achievements at this extraordinary New York Botanical Garden exhibition.
When To Go To the Van Gogh Exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm. (It is closed on Mondays for plant maintenance.) Self-guided tours allow visitors to explore at their own pace, and only minimal walking is required to see the exhibit in its entirety. The NYBG website offers additional information about the exhibit and purchasing tickets.
Visitors can also plan to see the van Gogh exhibit illuminated after dark on Starry Nights, which take place on select evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. These ticketed events include lights, musical performances, drinks and a unique van Gogh-themed drone show. (Tickets for Starry Night can be purchased online.)
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10548. The Garden is only 20 minutes from Manhattan via Metro-North.
Save to Pinterest!!
