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Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism

Join us in the gardens and galleries for an exhibition that celebrates the universal human experiences connecting us across cultures and geographies.

April 18 – Sept. 7, 2026

Jaume Plensa’s monumental figurative sculptures have been displayed across the globe for over four decades, serving as tributes to both individuality and shared humanity. Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism is the first retrospective of the internationally acclaimed artist’s work in the United States and explores his career-long engagement with themes of personal introspection and collective harmony. Experience a selection of Plensa’s towering portrait sculptures in the gardens along with his iconic seated figures, portrait busts and more in the Freyer – Newman Center galleries, each a reminder that despite our differences, we are all deeply connected.

This exhibition is organized in partnership with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

 

About the Artist

Based in Barcelona, Spain, artist Jaume Plensa is best known for Crown Fountain, the immense portrait fountains in Chicago’s Millenium Park. Throughout his 40-year career, Plensa has explored the human experience through materials ranging from steel and bronze to resin, graphite and ink. His work is found in public spaces and major museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas. Plensa has received numerous honors for his contributions to contemporary sculpture, including the International Sculpture Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Jaume Plensa is represented by GRAY Gallery.

Related Programs

Art at the Gardens Tour

Walk through the galleries with a guide who shares stories about the work on display. Price includes admission to the Gardens.

Curator Conversations Tour

Join us for a stroll through current art exhibitions in our state-of-the-art Freyer – Newman Center galleries with a curatorial staff member.

Visitas guiadas: arte

Disfrute las exposiciones de las galerías en el edificio FNC con un guía. Los Jardines Botánicos de Denver es líder en exposiciones de arte que destacan escultura, pintura, ilustración botánica y más.

York Street
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Painting The Garden in A New Light

April 24, 2026 | Adults, School of Botanical Art & Illustration, Art Exploration

Using the forms of sculptures nestled within the garden’s lush landscape, learn to deconstruct these intricate artworks into simple shapes and fluid

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