Sculpture Garden, Canberra

The Sculpture Garden, located between the National Gallery and the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, offers a captivating display of the Gallery’s extensive sculpture collection. Designed by Harry Howard and Associates with input from James Mollison, the Gallery’s first Director, the garden’s layout was carefully planned to harmonize with the architectural form of the National Gallery. Earthworks and plantings for the garden began in 1981, and its design incorporates a diagonal pathway that mirrors the triangular architecture of the Gallery building.

This innovative landscape design features a series of 'outside rooms' that showcase a diverse collection of 26 sculptures by both international and Australian artists. The majority of these sculptures were acquired in the early 1980s and reflect the abstract and industrial styles prevalent at the time. Noteworthy pieces include Fujiko Nakaya’s fog sculpture and the evocative Pukamani burial poles, which add a layer of cultural and artistic depth to the garden. A significant addition in 2010 is Antony Gormley’s life-sized maquette for "Angel of the North," which faces the lake and adds a striking visual element to the collection.

The garden’s plantings are carefully selected to withstand Canberra’s extreme weather conditions, including harsh winters and long, hot summers. The design is organized around the seasons, with each section reflecting a different time of year. The Winter garden, closest to the Gallery, features warm slate and winter flowering acacias, along with the earliest figurative sculptures. The Summer garden, shaded by Casuarinas and adjacent to a marsh pond, provides a cool respite during the hotter months. The Spring garden, nearer to the lake, bursts with flowering Grevilleas and Acacias. The Autumn garden, however, was never fully realized, leaving an incomplete seasonal cycle.