Sculpture in the Garden at @AtlBotanical

The Atlanta Botanical Garden unveils some of the largest sculptures ever shown at Midtown’s urban oasis May through October with a group exhibition of internationally acclaimed artists never before presented in the Southeast.

Independent Visions: Sculpture in the Garden, presented in collaboration with the Marlborough Gallery New York, features 19 contemporary works by artistsMagdalena Abakanowicz, Chakaia Booker, Red Grooms, Clement Meadmore, Michele Oka Doner, Beverly Pepper, George Rickey, Kenneth Snelson, and Manolo Valdés.

Longo Monolith by Beverly Pepper

The exhibition continues the Garden’s tradition of presenting fine art by some of the world’s most renowned artists set in nature, including the work of Dale Chihuly, Henry Moore, and Niki de Saint Phalle.

“The Garden has become the Atlanta venue to see the best in contemporary art outdoors,” said Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden’s executive director.

The nine artists each have produced significant bodies of work and are renowned for their singular, independent vision. Collectively, their work spans the breadth of 20th- and 21st-century sculpture. “The exhibited works, though diverse in character, exemplify the individual artists’ shared commitment to physicality and to the object as their preferred sculptural medium,” said Dale Lanzone, the exhibition’s curator.

Yvonne II by Manolo Valdes

One of the most exciting aspects of the show is not only the wide-ranging diversity of the artists, their work and mediums but also how the sculptures are placed in the Garden. Some of the pieces are monumental, with two of the sculptures extending beyond 24 feet. But because most of the sculptures weigh less than those of previous shows, the placements are more radical, creating stunning and unexpected views. An example is Key City, a 24-foot-by-24-foot sculpture of stainless steel rods by Kenneth Snelson spanning the Aquatic Plant Pond.

On Thursday evenings, visitors may experience the exhibition theatrically lit duringCocktails in the Garden and Fest-of-Ale.

Independent Visions: Sculpture in the Garden is presented with the support of the Fulton County Arts Council and the Forward Arts Foundation.

The mission of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation and enjoyment. The Garden is located at 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE and open April-October from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and until 10 p.m. on Thursdays, and from November-March from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $18.95 adults, $12.95 children 3-12, and free to children under 3 and Garden members. For information, call 404.876.5859 or visitatlantabotanicalgarden.org.