The largest-ever outdoor presentation of Henry Moore’s art is to be unveiled at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst in 2026. This major exhibition, the largest of its kind on Moore anywhere in the world, will offer a fresh perspective on Moore’s lifelong engagement with natural forms and materials, creating new opportunities for visitors to encounter his monumental sculptures within the context of 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, Monumental Nature will celebrate Moore’s profound connection to ecology, creating a unique interplay between art and the surrounding landscape. In turn, visitors are encouraged to reflect on how they perceive and interact with the natural world. Works on display will include Large Two Forms, Oval with Points, Reclining Woman: Elbow, Locking Piece and Three Piece Sculpture: Vertebrae.
This new exhibition 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.
Rare
Monumental Nature will also encompass a comprehensive exhibition in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. This exhibition will feature over 90 works including bronzes, stone and wood carvings, prints and drawings, exploring Moore’s unique process of ‘thinking through nature’. Looking at Moore’s work in the context of today’s tandem climate and biodiversity crises, the gallery exhibition will explore his creative responses to the fragility of the natural world, and the role of humans within the complex ecosystems which connect all life on earth. Curated thematically, and drawing inspiration from Moore’s evolving approach to natural forms and the scientific innovations he witnessed during his lifetime, the exhibition will feature major and lesser-known works, some of which are rarely accessible to the public. The exhibition will culminate in a room showcasing some of Moore’s most impressive sculptures in wood, highlighting his innovative carving techniques. 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 Moore’s work can be understood through a contemporary lens.
Acclaimed
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 and mediums to communicate powerful stories around plants, fungi and the natural world.
Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, will host a parallel presentation of four of Moore’s sculptures, alongside newly commissioned pieces from contemporary artists, curated in partnership with the Henry Moore Institute. As part of Henry Moore and more, these artworks will continue the conversation of art and nature, drawing inspiration from the research being undertaken as part of Wakehurst’s Nature Unlocked programme. Complimenting Moore’s sculptures, their works will illuminate the many ways in which artists respond to nature, evoking themes of care and protection, with a particular focus on the stewardship and conservation of the natural world.
Moore’s works will remain at Wakehurst until 27 September 2026.
These landmark presentations at both Kew Gardens and Wakehurst will offer visitors a journey through the beauty and rich variety of Moore’s work, exploring his exceptional output across sculpture, drawing and print, and showcasing how the themes explored in his body of work continues 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.
Discoveries
Paul Denton, Director of Creative Programmes and Exhibitions at RBG Kew, says: “Almost two decades after Kew’s last major exhibition dedicated to Henry Moore we’re delighted to be collaborating once again with the Henry Moore Foundation to present Monumental Nature in 2026. This new exhibition will invite visitors to engage deeply with Moore’s artistic inspirations, revealing how his work was shaped by the scientific and natural 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, something which feels more pertinent today than ever before.”
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.”
At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens– home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.
Monumental Nature
Saturday 9th May 2026 – Sunday 27th September 2026, Kew Gardens, London
Friday 5th June 2026 – Sunday 27th September 2026, Wakehurst, West Sussex
Exhibitions included in a ticket to Kew Gardens/Wakehurst.
henry-moore.org
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