With a surplus of local artists and new galleries popping up daily to showcase their work in the Valley, it’s no surprise that the region is home to so many outdoor sculpture parks that mesh the beauty of the Hudson River Valley seamlessly with large-scale works of art. To put it quite plainly, the Valley loves art, hence the creation of Upstate Art Weekend a few years ago. Of course, you don’t just have to visit these open-air museums during the weekend-long event in July! Come in all seasons to watch the backdrop change around the sculptures.
Art Omi
1405 Route 22, Ghent
From its home in Ghent, Art Omi seeks to introduce creativity into the lives of the Hudson Valley community. The 120-acre sculpture park attracts an international roster of artists to display on the grounds, take up residencies, and participate in local programming. To date, the site has hosted more than 2,000 artists from over 100 countries to promote diversity of style, voice, and viewpoint. At the architecture and sculpture park, visitors can traverse the grounds to take in more than 60 works of art from a collection that varies every year.
Bradford Graves Sculpture Park
28 Doggums Way, Kerhonkson
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The park is family-friendly and free to guests, although visits are by appointment only. Some of the sculptures are also for sale. Gillis says that the response has been very positive. “Very often people will send us photographs of themselves in front of the sculptures,” she says. And — with a nod to Opus 40, which is 30 or so miles up the road — “Ulster County has two significant sculpture parks.”
Brunel Sculpture Garden
Junction of Route 28 & DeSilva Road, Boiceville
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Located in Boiceville, the Brunel Sculpture Garden houses more than a dozen statues, sculptures, and even totem poles constructed by artist Emile Brunel, the founder of the New York Institute of Photography. The destination serves as a community and education center on the Esopus Creek.
Circle Museum
10985 Route 22, Hillsdale
In Columbia County, the Circle Museum is a rain-or-shine destination in the Hudson Valley. Head here to browse an assortment of metal sculptures in a beautifully forested area near the western edge of the Berkshires. Each piece is crafted in a circular composition to mirror the shape of the sun, moon, and planets.
Creekside Sculpture Trail at Garner Arts Center
55 West Railroad Avenue, Garnerville
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As the only permanent outdoor installation of artist Ted Ludwiczak’s work in the United States, the Creekside Sculpture Trail is a must-visit in Rockland County. This summer, Cristina Biaggi’s The Web & The Nest is on view through the end of August at the outdoor sculpture park.
Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens
700 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase
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Located across the road from Purchase College, the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens are the highlight of the grounds at PepsiCo Global Headquarters. Named after the former chairman of the board and CEO at PepsiCo, the sculpture garden was first conceived in 1965 and has since grown to contain many large-scale works by 20th-century artists.
Fabulous Furniture
3930 Route 28, Boiceville
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Although it’s not exactly a sculpture garden, Fabulous Furniture is worthy of a mention on this list. A Boiceville secret, the shop is the brainchild of artist Steve Heller, who began the business in 1973 after working with wood since childhood. The store and the grounds are a hub for quirky, wonderful pieces that run the gamut from “defect” tree stumps turned unforgettable end tables, sky-high metallic spaceships, and souped-up retro rides. If ever there were a place that brings truth to the notion that “one man’s trash is another’s treasure,” this is it.
Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate
381 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow
Not just a sculpture garden, Kykuit is the historic home of four generations of Rockefellers. Nowadays, the Westchester County gem is a beloved landmark within the Hudson Valley. Locals can wander through the residence and art galleries, then head outdoors to the gardens, which house a number of eye-catching sculptures that harmonize with Kykuit’s breathtaking interior.
Opus 40
356 George Sickle Road, Saugerties
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For more than 40 years, Opus 40 has showcased the harmony between art and nature in the Hudson Valley. Set just outside of central Saugerties, the artistic venue’s claim to fame is a 6.5-acre sculpture park with a number of unique features, including 16 feet of subterranean pathways and a nine-ton monolith at the summit. Visitors are free to traverse the three stories up to the top, then take in the incredible view of Overlook Mountain when they reach the peak.
Pacem in Terris
96 Covered Bridge Road, Warwick
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The former home of internationally acclaimed artist Frederick Franck, Pacem in Terris is a trans-religious oasis located across the river from the Hudson Valleyite’s Warwick abode. Once a time-ravaged watermill, the space and grounds play host to sculptures that integrate beautifully into the greenery that surrounds them.
Seligmann Center for the Arts
23 White Oak Drive, Sugar Loaf
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Anyone planning a day trip to Storm King should stick around Orange County for a detour to the Seligmann Center. Set in Sugar Loaf, the venue is the former home of Kurt and Arlette Seligmann, an artistic couple who often welcomed names like Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, and Alexander Calder to their abode. While the Center is an attraction itself, with four galleries and performance spaces, the sculpture trail outside is a must for art lovers in the Hudson Valley.
Storm King Art Center
20 Old Pleasant Hill Road, New Windsor
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Arguably the most famous of all the Hudson Valley’s sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center attracts top artistic talent to the region. Set on an expansive 500 acres, the outdoor museum has operated since 1960 and houses dozens of larger-than-life works. In addition to its permanent collection, the Orange County hotspot welcomes rotating selections from visiting artists. If you visit, don’t forget to wear your walking shoes to trek it from one sculpture to the next.
Taconic Sculpture Park & Gallery
221 Stever Hill Road, Chatham
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Unlike other sculpture parks in the Hudson Valley, the Taconic Sculpture Park remains something of a secret. Even for locals, the Columbia County grounds are unheard of or under-the-radar. The park sits far above the highway, creating a slightly mysterious, otherworldly ambiance for passersby. On the grounds, visitors can take in the incredible works by artist Roy Kanwit, a talented sculptor whose pieces embrace the mythical. Although the park is out of the way, it’s a worthwhile destination for weekend visits and meditative escapes.
Unison Arts and Learning Center
9 Paradies Lane, New Paltz
A multi-faceted arts center in New Paltz, Unison delights with outdoor exhibits by a host of artists. It’s the perfect interlude between lunch and shopping in town.
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