The Best Outdoor Art Destinations in New England

Image via Complex Original

Location: Springfield, Mass.

Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) was born in Springfield, Mass., so it was only right that someone establish a memorial sculpture garden there in his honor. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a $6.2 million project spearheaded by the Springfield Library & Museums Association and made possible by Geisel’s wife and his sculptor stepdaughter, Lark Grey Dimond-Cates. The gardens feature bronze sculptures of the author and a few of his beloved children’s book characters, including the Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle, Horton the Elephant, and the Grinch and his faithful dog, Max.

Location: Coventry, Conn

American sculptor David Hayes has shown pieces in over 300 exhibitions during his lifetime. His work can still be seen in numerous museum collections around the world, but the single largest collection is on view in the Sculpture Fields at his home in Coventry, Conn. The 57-acre lot has orchards, hayfields, and hundreds of metal sculptures created by Hayes over the course of his long career—some of which measure up to 16-feet tall. Because it is a private property, visitors have to contact the family before wandering around, but it is worth the email.

Location: Old Lyme, Conn.

Located in Old Lyme, Conn., Gilbert V. Boro’s Sculpture Grounds is a 4.5-acre property near the Lieutenant River that has over 80 abstract sculptures by Boro and other contemporary artists, including Bo Gehring, Virgil Oertle, Gwen Basilica, Alvin Sher, and Fred and Judith Osbourne. It is open year-round to the public, but visitors should consider making an appointment to also view Boro’s 3,500-square-foot custom-built art studio.

Location: Lincoln, Mass.

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is located in Lincoln, Mass., on the former estate of tea broker and art collector Julian de Cordova. The 30-acre park is world-renowned and is filled with impressive works that are either a part of the collection, on loan from other institutions, or installed as site-specific projects. Visitors are invited to view sculptures by artists including Sol LeWitt, Paul Matisse, Paul McCarthy, Dorothy Dehner, Orly Genger, and many others—all set against the beautiful backdrop of landscaped lawns and gardens, Flint’s Pond, and the museum itself, which has over 3,400 works in its collection.

Location: Portsmouth, R.I

Everyone loves a good animal topiary. If you’re headed to (or just passing through) Portsmouth, R.I., a good place to stop is the Green Animals Topiary Gardens on the edge of Narragansett Bay. Over 80 expertly shaped trees span the seven-acre estate, forming animals and other cool shapes. Topiary gardens are especially good for kids, but this one is seasonal so you should check the website for their operating schedule before making the trip.

Location: Ridgefield, Conn.

The sculptures on display at the Kouros Sculpture Center in Ridgefield, Conn. are a part of the Kouros Gallery collection, which means that they are both beautiful and for sale. Lucy D. Rosenfeld and Marina Harrison write in their book Art on Sight: The Best Art Walks In and Near New York City, that they have “seldom seen a more interesting sculpture display” than the one at Kouros. Works by Dimitri Hadzi, Tom Doyle, David Hayes, Juan Bordes, Bill Barrett, Bruno Romeda, Lin Emery, and John von Bergen are among the many that cover the six-acre property, and the option to buy is always a good one.

Location: Boston, Mass.

Founded in 1997 by UMass Boston Professor Paul Tucker, the Arts on the Point collection includes works by Roy Lichtenstein, Willem de Kooning, Luis Jiménez, Shelia Pope, Mark di Suvero, Dennis Oppenheim, and others. Each piece is on long-term loan to the university, and each is at a different spot on the campus. You don’t have to be a student to enjoy the art, and there is a convenient digital map online to help those who are unfamiliar with the area to locate each of the sculptures. Check out this video of Professor Tucker discussing the program and its importance to the university. 

Location: West Rutland, Vt. 

The West Rutland Art Park (WRAP) in Vermont, established by Barbara and Bill Carris with the help of nine artists from around the world, is a fairly new development. The Carris family invited the artists to live with them for a month in 2013 while they created pieces during the WRAP International Sculpture Symposium. A winding road gives visitors the opportunity to drive to the next sculpture instead of walking the length of the property, which makes this art destination a convenient place to experience at your own pace.

Location: Brookline, N.H.

The Andres Institute of Art Sculpture Park is the hidden gem of the state of New Hampshire. Tucked away in the mountains of Brookline are over 70 sculptures along various hiking trails and 140 acres of land. New pieces are added every year as a part of the institute’s annual symposium, and visitors are invited to explore the trails every day of the week from dawn to dusk. An added bonus is the fact that it is a non-profit organization, so it matters that normal people visit and support them. Take your friends and your dogs and have a bit of exercise with your art.

Location: Enosberg Falls, Vt.

The newly opened Cold Hollow Sculpture Park in Enosberg Falls, Vt., has on display over 50 large-scale sculptures by David Stromeyer. The artist opened the park along with his wife this summer after building towards it for the past 45 years. Think of the free seasonal attraction as a physical timeline of the artist’s career, with over 200 acres to explore, restrooms, and a welcome center. Many of the pieces are for sale as a way to offset the price of maintaining the property.