First Looks: Sunflowers Manifest Joy & Inspire NYBG’s Van Gogh's Flowers Exhibit

Art of the Garden

May 23

Sunflowers are magic🌻 Did you know sunflowers start every day facing east and follow the sun’s arc so that by days’ end face west? Whether it’s sunny or cloudy. Not unlike the opening weekend to the premiere of The New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) Van Gogh’s Flowers show that is forecast to be~wait for it~a Sunshower! No matter the weather, you can revel in the beauty of the natural world that inspired the Vincent Van Gogh displays in the Conservatory and out in the Garden. Here’s my sneak peek:

I was delighted to be part of the NYBG Press Preview, May 21st. It was a brilliant, glorious day to be at the Garden. I always take Metro North to this jewel of a cultural institution for the events (a mere 20 minute ride~ just like I did every day when I worked there…)

Walking up to the Enid A. Conservatory on Tuesday with my talented associate, Michael Alexander K, who generously offered his video talents, we couldn’t help but burst into smiles upon seeing the cropping of sunflowers ~ both sculptural and growing new “real” sunflower plantings.

The Conservatory Lawn blooms with a massive field of monumental sunflower sculptures by immersive artist Cyril Lancelin alongside those living sunflowers and other plants, all inspired by the flowers in Van Gogh’s famed artwork.

It’s also an irresistible photo opp.

As are the framed living walls that NYBG has strategically placed throughout the show.

You can’t resist styling and profiling 😎

From Saturday, May 24 through October 26, visitors to NYBG’s Van Gogh’s Flowers will delight in the side by side pairing of the famed artist’s paintings, next to the flowers that inspired the artist, by sculptor, designer, and public artist, Amie Jacobsen. Amie’s flower art is breathtaking.

Amie has been working on the featured floral art since NYBG reached out to her over a year ago and has been working on the four featured installations since then.

Amie showcases Van Gogh’s expressive masterpieces of irises, imperial fritillaries, oleanders, and roses, with walls of selfie-worthy living plants behind them.

The garden of the hospital in Arles, which Van Gogh painted in 1889, comes alive in a magnificent rendition of living flowers and architectural elements.

As the Garden noted, “You’ve seen the paintings, now see them come to life at the Garden.”

You will be astonished to view Van Gogh’s beloved Iris, Oleander, Foxgloves, and of course, the iconic Sunflowers that are most associated with the artist, rendered in Amie’s artful designs, not unlike the porcelain wonders of Ukrainian-born sculptor Vladimir Kanevsky who has been long-revered for his life-like porcelain flower sculptures, that have been exhibited in museums around the world, and, most notably, at the redesigned Frick Museum in New York City. (I just visited the new Frick and will review in a Post soon. Very exciting re-design and garden!)

Vladimir Kanevsky porcelain florral at the Frick Museum

NYBG presents botanical displays along with contemporary art by Lee Baker and Catherine Borowski of Graphic Rewilding, You can see how their art unfolds across the floor of the entrance to the Conservatory in the Palms of the World Gallery, and soaring, in the black pool under the Palm Court dome.

Complementary daytime programming on select dates during Van Gogh’s Flowers will offer engaging, interactive experiences, such as “Plein Air Drop-In and Paint,” that spark NYBG visitors’ creativity, offer respite from City life, and inspire them to see nature as Van Gogh did.

On select dates, Starry Nights will offer exhibition viewing in the glow of evening, with music and performers, drinks and food available for purchase, and, conditions-permitting, after-dark Van Gogh-themed drone shows—New York City’s first at a cultural institution—bringing Starry Nights to life before your eyes.

During the Van Gogh Opening Weekend, you can step into a vibrant flower truck blooming with the LEGO® Botanicals collection on display—designed to spark joy and inspire unexpected surprises for those you love. You can immerse yourself in the LEGO Botanical Garden pop-up and explore the power of connection and creativity with a hands-on make-and-take experience including a mini-Vincent van Gogh sunflower creation.

For a full agenda of the Garden’s Van Gogh programs: https://www.nybg.org/event/van-goghs-flowers/programs-and-activities/

For more information about Van Gogh’s Flowers, and to purchase tickets, visit

https://www.nybg.org/event/van-goghs-flowers/.

To purchase tickets for Starry Nights, visit:

https://feverup.com/m/353046.

The larger-than-life creations by Graphic Rewilding are also on view in the Reflecting Pools of NYBG’s Leon

Levy Visitor Center and in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory that pay homage to Vincent van Gogh’s signature

style, depicting the many flowers featured in his works.

Let Me Count The Ways…

The New York Botanical Garden has been a connective hub among people, plants, and the shared planet since 1891. For nearly 135 years, NYBG has been rooted in the cultural fabric of New York City, in the heart of the Bronx, its greenest borough. NYBG has invited millions of visitors to make the Garden a part of their lives, exploring the joy, beauty, and respite of nature. NYBG’s 250 acres are home to renowned exhibitions, immersive botanical experiences, art and music, and events with some of the most influential figures in plant and fungal science, horticulture, and the humanities. NYBG is also a steward of globally significant research collections, from the LuEsther T. Mertz Library collection to the plant and fungal specimens in the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, the largest such collection in the Western Hemisphere.

The plant people of NYBG—dedicated horticulturists, enthusiastic educators, and scientific adventurers—are committed to helping nature thrive so that humanity can thrive. They believe in their ability to make things better, teaching tens of thousands of kids and families each year about the importance of safeguarding the environment and healthy eating. Expert scientists work across the city, the nation, and the globe to document the plants and fungi of the world—and find actionable, nature-based solutions to the planet’s dual climate and biodiversity crises. With eyes always looking forward, they train the next generation of botanists, gardeners, landscape designers, and environmental stewards, ensuring a green future for all. At NYBG, it’s nature—or nowhere.

And in this era of lack of support for art and cultural institutions, I want to be sure to include those brands and companies that have provided Major Support for Van Gogh’s Flowers: :

Delta Air Lines

Van Gogh’s Flowers is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature

The Van Gogh Flowers show is Garden Glamour at its artful zenith. It’s inspired by a clutch of nature’s inspirations that converge at the Garden: immersive horticulture, painting, sculpture, graphics, hospitality, and visual arts.

In turn, you will be inspired…