Monumental Nature: Largest-ever outdoor exhibition of Henry Moore works arrives at Kew Gardens next month

From 9 May, Kew Gardens in London will showcase a once-in-a-generation presentation of artworks by Henry Moore, one of the most influential and internationally recognised artists of the 20^th century. Monumental Nature represents the largest and most comprehensive showcase of Moore’s work to date, featuring 30 works across Kew’s varied landscape and inside the iconic Temperate House, the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world. 

A world-first exhibition
This major exhibition, the largest of its kind on Moore anywhere in the world to-date, will offer a fresh perspective on his lifelong engagement with natural forms and materials, creating new opportunities for visitors to encounter his monumental sculptures alongside Kew’s iconic vistas and historic glasshouses. Throughout Moore’s career, this connection to nature remained a constant theme, reflected in his ability to transform its complexity and beauty into abstract forms that feel profoundly human. Moore believed that landscapes provided the perfect setting for his sculptures, where the natural architecture of the environment could amplify their visual and emotional impact.

Situating this remarkable body of work amongst Kew’s heritage landscapes and living collections, the exhibition will celebrate a connection to ecology, creating a unique interplay between art and the surrounding landscape. Throughout the run, visitors will be encouraged to reflect on how they perceive and interact with the natural world. Works on display will include Large Two Forms, Sheep Piece, Large Reclining Figure, Oval with Points, Reclining Woman: Elbow, Locking Piece and Three-Piece Sculpture: Vertebrae. 

This new exhibition, presented in partnership with the Henry Moore Foundation, will also span Kew’s entire 320-acre site, in contrast to the 2007 presentation of Moore’s works in the Gardens, which was concentrated in a few specific areas. 

Rarely seen works
Alongside the works across the Gardens, visitors will also be able to enjoy a comprehensive exhibition in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, featuring over 90 works including bronzes, stone and wood carvings, prints and drawings, exploring Moore’s unique process of ‘thinking through nature’. The gallery exhibition will explore his creative responses to the fragility of the natural world, and the role which humans play as part of the complex ecosystems which connect all life on earth. Curated thematically, and drawing inspiration from Moore’s evolving approach to natural forms, the exhibition will feature major and lesser-known works, some of which are rarely accessible to the public. It will culminate with a showcase of some of Moore’s most impressive sculptures in wood, highlighting his innovative carving techniques and artistic process. A selection of items from Kew’s collections will also be on display as part of the exhibition, alongside works on loan from major British collections including Tate and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. 

The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated book published by Kew Publishing. Featuring contributions by curators, art historians and specialists of associated fields from the team at Kew, such as botanists and evolutionary biologists, this major new publication on Moore will present new viewpoints from which his work can be understood through a contemporary lens.  

Acclaimed art at the heart of Kew
Following in the footsteps of major contemporary art commissions at Kew Gardens from artists including Marshmallow Laser Feast, Marc Quinn, Felicity Aylieff, Mat Collishaw, Rebecca Louise Law and Dale Chihuly, Monumental Nature continues a growing tradition of situating art and artists at the heart of Kew’s remarkable Gardens and record-breaking living collection. This growing tradition demonstrates the power of working with artists across a range of disciplines to communicate powerful stories around plants, fungi and the natural world, enlivening Kew’s mission to create a thriving planet for all. 

A once-in-a-generation experience for all
In addition to the daytime exhibition, several exciting After Hours events will see the Temperate House transformed as dusk falls. Running on Friday 26^th and Saturday 27^th June, and Friday 3^rd and Saturday 4^th of July, these adult-only evenings will celebrate the summer solstice, through a series of performances and artistic encounters across the glasshouse, co-curated with the Working Class Creatives Database. 

A daytime family programme running throughout the exhibition will encompass an interactive trail, focused on guiding younger visitors around a selection of sculptures through sight, touch and sound. 

From selected dates between Tuesday 14 July – Tuesday 11 August, visitors can enjoy exclusive evening guided buggy tours of the exhibition. These premium sunset experiences will combine the expertise of a dedicated guide, with sparkling wine on arrival and a unique opportunity to explore Henry Moore’s works. With just six guests per buggy, this experience offers a unique opportunity to soak up this summer’s must-visit art experience at golden hour. 

Henry Moore and more: contemporary responses at Wakehurst

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, will host a parallel presentation of four of Moore’s sculptures, curated in partnership with the Henry Moore Institute. Showcasing newly commissioned pieces from contemporary artists Rana Begum, Rafael Pérez Evans, and a new work by Paloma Varga Weisz, receiving its UK premiere, Henry Moore and more will highlight the distinctively contrasting ways in which these contemporary artists have responded to Wakehurst’s landscape, drawing inspiration from the human craving for a connection with the natural world.  

Moore’s works will remain at Wakehurst until 23 May 2027. 

These landmark presentations at both Kew Gardens and Wakehurst will offer visitors a journey through the beauty and rich variety of Moore’s oeuvre, exploring his exceptional output across sculpture, drawing and print, and showcasing how the themes explored in his works continue to inspire artists today. Using the natural landscapes of these spectacular botanic gardens as a unique canvas, these tandem presentations offer an extraordinary opportunity for visitors of all ages to encounter Moore’s work as never before. 

Paul Denton, Director of Creative Programmes and Exhibitions at RBG Kew, says: “We’re delighted to be collaborating once again with the Henry Moore Foundation to present Monumental Nature this year, and are very grateful to our Headline Supporter, the Nora McNeely Hurley Foundation for its generous support of the exhibition. The experience will invite visitors to engage deeply with Moore’s artistic inspirations, revealing how his work was shaped by discoveries unfolding during his lifetime. His enduring interest in placing the human figure within the landscape speaks to our timeless and shared connection with the natural world. ”

Eva Owen, Programme Manager at Wakehurst, adds: “We’re delighted to be bringing four of Moore’s sculptures to Wakehurst as part of Henry Moore and more. The opportunity to commission and display new contemporary pieces from pioneering artists in collaboration with the Henry Moore Institute also allows us a fantastic opportunity to connect Moore’s key motifs of care and connection with the leading lights of contemporary art practice. This in turn reflects the vital work which we do at Wakehurst, not only in terms of managing and researching an incredible array of landscapes and natural habitats, but also through the vital work of our Millennium Seed Bank, which stands as a potent symbol of caring for and conserving the natural world.”

Sebastiano Barassi, Head of Henry Moore Collections & Programmes, reflects: “Moore’s deep affinity with the natural world makes Kew and Wakehurst ideal settings for his work. Throughout his career, he was inspired by organic forms—bones, stones, trees, and the rhythms of the landscape—and he believed that sculpture should exist in harmony with its surroundings. The Henry Moore Foundation has a long-standing relationship with Kew, and this exhibition builds on that connection in bold and exciting ways. By presenting his sculptures across both Kew and Wakehurst, we’re offering a fresh perspective on Moore’s legacy—one that invites visitors to reflect on nature, humanity, and the environment at a time when those themes feel more urgent and relevant than ever.”

ENDS