Inspirations for a breathtaking sculpture garden

Do you dream of an impressive garden that reflects not only nature but also art in all its facets? Imagine how a carefully selected collection of sculptures would create a special effect throughout the year, giving your outdoor spaces a distinctive atmosphere.

Garden art and sculptures transform your garden landscape to an effective experience that arouses interest and fascination in every season. A well -placed sculpture will also be just as appealing in winter - perhaps surrounded by a gentle snow cover. In summer, a sculpture garden also be appealing when the sun shines on the surface of the garden figures and brings lively colors and shadow games to life.

Artwork in green spaces can act as eye-catchers or accentuate a specific area of ​​the garden by creating contrasts or highlighting a recurring theme. Whether modern and abstract or classic and detailed: the wide selection of sculptures on the market allows you to express your individual style and add a personal touch.

A unique work of art in the outdoor area becomes a reflection of your personality and preferences, promotes harmony in the design of your garden, and invites you to pause and enjoy the beauty of the moment.

The Savill Garden invites you to "Art in the Garden"

In order to offer you inspiration for your own sculpture garden, I would like to take you on a trip to the Savill Garden , where the renowned exhibition "Art in the Garden" ("Art in the Garden") takes place every year in cooperation with the Surrey Sculpture Society . This unique event enables visitors to discover impressive works and sculptures from various artists in the magical gardens.

The Botanical Garden of Savill Garden is located in the southeastern part of Windsor Great Park , west of London. He attracts visitors from all over the world with its abundance of plants, its English gardens and the artistic sculptures.

It's an excellent opportunity to gather creative ideas on how to tastefully and stylishly integrate garden sculptures Savill Garden covers a generous 35 acres in the picturesque Windsor Great Park. Besides a wide variety of plants, it also offers diverse garden landscapes – from a bog garden and an inviting dry garden to a shimmering lake and shady woodlands. The idyllic rose garden and magnificent flowering herbaceous borders also contribute to the garden's diversity.

Whether your garden has a wild, romantic feel or is more formally designed, Savill Garden impressively demonstrates that there are countless elements that can both bring joy and inspiration. Use this year's "Art in the Garden" exhibition, traditionally held from September to October, as a source of inspiration.

Garden expert Alexandra Campbell from The Middle-Sized Garden visited the sculpture exhibition last year and takes us on a tour of the English sculpture garden in the video:

Let yourself be inspired by the creative solutions of numerous visual artists and landscape architects and find out how you can transform your own green oasis into a total work of art. Make the first step into a garden that not only lives, but also touches heart!

To get further inspiration for your garden, useful tips for garden design and ideas for landscapes, you can subscribe to the YouTube channel "Middlesized Garden" : @Themiddlesizedgarden . Regardless of whether you prefer the traditional English garden style, romantic farm gardens or modern urban gardening, the multi -award -winning team of The Middlesized Garden you numerous advice and creative suggestions for your garden projects.

How to make an informed selection for garden art and outdoor sculptures

During her tour of the sculpture exhibition, Alexandra asked four of the artists who exhibited at Savill Garden in 2024, as well as the landscape architect in charge, Heather King, for advice on how to skillfully select garden art or sculptures . The artists were Caroline Wheaton , Nicci Fairbank , Julie Simpson , and Marie Boyle .

Heather King supported the selection of the sculptures for the exhibition and when determining their placement. She started looking at the artists' submissions at the Surrey Sculpture Society .

If you are looking for art for your garden, it is advisable to look at as many works as possible. Try to experience art and sculptures in gardens by attending a sculpture garden or a special exhibition. ”

the exhibition curator Heather King advises.

Surrey Sculpture Society organizes another exhibition in Leonardslee Gardens near the Savill Gardens . The International Sculpture Center in the United States has a list of sculpture gardens from all over the world if you want to go on an extensive inspiration tour across the entire globe.

Take into account the overall design and the central character of your garden

Although there are no fixed guidelines for which type of sculpture fits which garden style, some useful clues can still be found.

• What style does your garden have?
• Is it modern, colorful, classic, in the style of an "English country house" or rather a kind of farm garden?

If you are still in the process of designing your garden, take a look at the following list of garden styles:

• Cottage garden style
• Traditional garden style
• Formal garden style
• English country garden
• Reflects the architecture of your house
• Outdoor space , also known as urban garden style
• Contemporary/modern garden style
• Mediterranean or "dry" garden style
• Coastal garden
• Exotic or "tropical jungle" garden
• Wild garden
• Rose garden
• Japanese garden / Zen garden
• Naturalistic garden or species of prices
• Ecological garden
• Upcycled or recycled garden
• Garden for plant lovers
• City or court garden
• Felsen, mountain or alpine garden
• Forest garden
• Garden with local plants
• Rustic garden
• Edible garden (potatur/food forest)

You have the option of combining your garden art with the style of your garden, such as a traditional figure near a rose garden or Buddhist figures in a Zen garden .

Alternatively, you can also create contrasts. The Savill Garden offers some impressive traditional perennial beds that have been combined with modern works of art.

A more intensive preoccupation with the listed garden styles and their combination with outdoor art can be found in the advisory articles by The Middle Sized Garden.

Talk to the artists

It is crucial that they enter dialogue with the artists when it comes to integrating a sculpture into their space. The sculptor emphasize: As soon as you have found a style that seems appealing to you, you should not hesitate to find the conversation with the artist. This communication is the key to ensuring placement of the sculpture

Pay particular attention to the specific characteristics of the location. Consider where and how the sculpture can best be displayed. Do you want to present a larger piece in an open space, such as a spacious lawn? This offers an opportunity to experiment with the arrangement and create a strong visual impact. A generously sized artwork can not only be a focal point but also significantly enhance the overall ambiance of a room or garden.

The choice of space goes beyond aesthetic aspects; It can also influence the perception and context of the artwork. A strategically placed sculpture block has the potential to captivate the audience and create a sense of focus and differentiation in the room. Such a consideration gives the entire environment a new dimension and makes the sculpture appear in a completely different light.

It is therefore essential to share your ideas and wishes with the artist. Together they can ensure that the sculpture not only represents a decorative element, but also becomes an integral part of their individual aesthetics.

Garden art for sunny or shady areas

Think about how the light affects your garden art or sculptures. Is it reflected? Can you make a shady area optimal by giving it art with a forest -like character? What about the wind?

Use every external or natural influence by selecting and arranging a sculpture that interact with your garden.

Also take practical aspects into account

It is also important to worry about how your sculpture or work of work is to be cultivated and protected against weather influences and damage.

The Savill Garden is open to the public, which is why people are constantly traveling there. Even in a private garden, it can happen that children play or go ahead with dogs. You want to avoid the sculpture overturning.

Caroline Wheaton of the Surrey Sculpture Society recommends clarifying this with the artist or supplier of a garden sculpture beforehand. Many works are securely and firmly anchored in the ground. If you are placing the sculpture on a pedestal, ensure that both the pedestal and the sculpture remain stable, even if someone bumps into them.

You should also know how to maintain your work of art. Garden art consists of robust materials, but requires regular cleaning and care . The artist should be able to give you useful advice. Further advice and tips can also be found in our magazine (section: garden design & landscape architecture).

What do garden art and sculptures cost?

There is a clear difference between the acquisition of a piece made in series in a garden center and an individually designed work of art by an artist.

As a rule, art that is created on a personal level is much more expensive. Caroline Wheaton from the Surrey Sculpture Society starts the prices for most of her sculptor's work as part of an "affordable art fair" . The Affordable Art Fair is an event in ten cities worldwide, including Hamburg, London, New York, Melbourne and Hong Kong, which specializes in affordable art and sculptures (we have reported about it).

There are no precise price ranges on their website, but it is generally assumed that most works of art for a sculpture garden are sold between EUR 150 and EUR 10,000.