Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art

While working in New Orleans for business, someone recommended the sculpture garden at City Park. I was able to break away for an hour or two and explore the fabulous and relaxing garden.

I was surprised that City Park had some many things to offer – from the New Orleans Botanical Gardens to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA).

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is part of the NOMA, but admission is free. Here’s a small taste of what you can expect to see and do in the garden.

Another fantastic place to visit in New Orleans is the National World War II Museum.

Wandering Pathways, Ponds and Foliage

I was amazed at the landscape of the garden. The brick paths, bridges, large pond, flowing water and art make it the perfect spot for a relaxing break from the wild parties of Bourbon Street.

The Sculpture Garden has multiple entrances. Since admission is free, you’re welcome to enter from the closest entrance. There’s also no rhyme or reason to how the sculptures are placed, so start wandering at your own pace.

I noticed a couple sitting on some steps near the pond. They were enjoying a very peaceful moment and quiet conversation.

Sculptures from Artists Around the World

I was surprised by the variety of sculptures in the garden. At one point, there was a window from a brick building floating roughly 15 feet in the air. An extension ladder stretching from the ground to the window. It was weird, but interesting.

Another sculpture was a man, sitting on a man, who was sitting on another man, and so on and so forth for about 20 feet into the air. It was unique and fun to look at.

I was most confused by the giant, 20-foot tall safety pin towering above an open grass field. Nearby was a sculpture with the four letters of LOVE stacked in a square. I guess you could say I found LOVE in the Sculpture Garden. Haha!

Use the NOMA Mobile Guide

It wasn’t until after I had toured the Sculpture Garden that I saw a sign about the NOMA Mobile Guide. I’m sure that would’ve been helpful in understanding why a giant safety pin was part of the garden.

I could’ve also learned about several other sculptures on display. While I am interested in seeing art, I am the type of person who would rather be told the story behind the sculpture and what I am looking at, as opposed to making it all up on my own. But that’s just me.

The NOMA Mobile Guide provides an audio tour of each of the sculptures. And if you decide to venture inside the New Orleans Museum of Art, the mobile guide has information on that, too.

The Six-acre Addition to the Sculpture Garden

During my visit, there was construction going on. I didn’t think anything of it, but later discovered it was part of a six-acre garden expansion project.

The new expansion opened on May 15, 2019. Here’s some additional information about the newly expanded garden and what you can find there.

The Details

Address: One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124

Cost: Admission is FREE to the Sculpture Garden

Hours: The Sculpture Garden is open 7 days a week. Between April 1 to September 30, from 10 am – 6 pm. From October 1 to March 31, it’s open from 10 am – 5 pm. The Garden is closed Endymion Saturday, Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Website: https://noma.org/sculpture-garden/background

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