In Grand Rapids, Michigan sits one of the most visited art museums and gardens; taking up 158-acres for art and horticulture – Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. For three years straight, USA Today readers have listed Meijer Gardens as the Best Sculpture Park in the United States. The gallery space has seen over fifteen million visitors come through its doors and walk through its gorgeous gardens and sculpture park. The blend of art and nature creates a wholesome and creative environment for visitors while they admire the hundreds of different plant species and carefully crafted art pieces.
In 1990, West Michigan Horticultural Society President Betsy Borre reached out to entrepreneurs Fred and Lena Meijer, best known for creating the retail store Meijer, to ask for their help. The group loved the idea of a cultural attraction that centered around horticulture and sculpture. After many years of planning and fundraising, the gardens opened in April 1995. Today, the facility is operated by almost 200 employees, over 850 volunteers, and supported by 30,000 members and hundreds of donors. The gardens are a nonprofit organization that advocates for the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of the natural environment and art.
The Meijer Gardens are vast, including Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory, five indoor themed gardens, outdoor gardens, nature trails, sculpture garden and gallery, a library, the Shirley Balk Café, DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop, and an education center. All of the outdoor garden spaces feature plants that are visible during all seasons of the year. Guests are encouraged to take their time at sections like the Wege Nature Trail and Frey Boardwalk where wetlands, bird watching, and tadpole ponds can be enjoyed. Among some of the themed gardens are the Japanese Garden, Farm Garden, Children’s Garden, Amphitheater, and the Plant House — home to the only public display of carnivorous plants in the US.
Art and sculptures, both permanent and part of exhibitions, can be found inside and outside at Meijer Gardens. The permanent collection on-site features nearly 300 works by artists like Edgar Degas, Alexander Calder, and Louise Bourgeois. Out in the 30-acre sculpture park, various sculptures are on display. The designs range from abstract to realistic with bright pops of color or natural hues of bronze. No piece is the same and each is so unique, invoking thought into their meaning and connection to the nature around them.
One of the newest sculpture pieces at the gardens is a 26-foot-tall bronze figure. Created by artist Nick Cave, this piece is his first public outdoor sculpture. The piece is called Amalgam (Origin), an evolution of his previous work Soundsuits – made of twigs gathered after the 1991 police assault of Rodney King. During that difficult time, Cave found solace in nature as a sanctuary among the violence. The figure of bronze vegetation which grows into a tangle of sticks and birds is representative of a return to the primacy of nature. The sculpture can be found near the North Path by Japanese Garden and Farm Garden.
In addition to their permanent pieces, Meijer Gardens holds several sculpture exhibitions throughout the year. One of the current exhibitions is Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism, the artist’s first career retrospective to be held in the United States. The exhibit delves into the common human themes of Plensa’s work such as mortality, unity, the human form, and much more. Pieces from four-decades of Plensa’s work are on display in diverse forms including stone, metal, paper, wood, and even video and sound. The exhibition runs from October 24, 2025 through March 15, 2026.
Admission to Meijer Garden is $22 for adults ages 14-64, $17 for seniors 65+, $11 for children 3-13, and free for children 2 and younger. The Gardens are open Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., and Wed. – Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Be sure to check the website for seasonal hours and various days when the facility is closed. Meijer Gardens is a cashless venue, so keep this in mind when visiting. Reserving tickets in advance online is your best bet for a smooth and speedy admittance into the gardens. The entire Garden and Sculpture area may take between two to eight hours to experience, depending on which areas and at which speed you prefer to explore.