Henry Moore’s largest outdoor exhibition transforms Kew Gardens into an extraordinary open-air sculpture experience.
This spring, one of the world’s most celebrated sculptors arrives at one of London’s most iconic landscapes. Running to 31 January 2027, Kew Gardens presents Henry Moore: Monumental Nature – the largest outdoor exhibition of Henry Moore’s work ever staged.
Set across Kew’s spectacular 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site, the exhibition brings together 30 monumental sculptures positioned throughout the gardens and inside the breathtaking Temperate House, the world’s largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. Against sweeping lawns, historic vistas and rare botanical collections, Moore’s sculptures take on new meaning, inviting visitors to experience sculpture and nature in dialogue.
Nature As Inspiration
Few artists understood the relationship between landscape and sculpture as profoundly as Henry Moore. Throughout his career, Moore drew inspiration from organic forms including bones, stones, trees and the contours of the human body – transforming them into works that feel both monumental and deeply human. He believed sculpture belonged outdoors, where changing light, weather and surroundings could shape the viewer’s experience and at Kew, visitors can encounter some of Moore’s most celebrated works in precisely the kind of environment he imagined.
Alongside the outdoor sculptures, Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art hosts an extensive indoor exhibition featuring more than 90 works, including bronzes, carvings, drawings and prints. Exploring Moore’s lifelong fascination with the natural world, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see both major masterpieces and lesser-known works, some rarely accessible to the public. The gallery exhibition traces Moore’s creative process and reveals how closely his artistic vision was tied to the forms and rhythms of nature. Visitors will also discover works in wood and stone that demonstrate his extraordinary craftsmanship, alongside objects from Kew’s own collections.
Art For Everyone
Families can enjoy an interactive trail designed especially for younger visitors, encouraging children to engage with Moore’s sculptures while discovering different areas of the Gardens in playful and imaginative ways. As the exhibition unfolds through summer, Kew will also host a programme of Henry Moore After Hours events inside the Temperate House, where performances, installations and artistic encounters will transform the glasshouse after dark. Beyond London, the experience extends to Kew Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, where Henry Moore and more will feature four of Moore’s sculptures alongside newly commissioned works by contemporary artists.
Unforgettable
Presented in partnership with the Henry Moore Foundation, Monumental Nature continues Kew’s growing tradition of bringing world-class art into conversation with the natural world. More than an exhibition, it is an immersive experience that encourages visitors to slow down, look closely and reconnect with the landscape around them. Whether you are discovering Henry Moore for the first time or revisiting an iconic British artist in a remarkable new setting, this once-in-a-generation exhibition promises an unforgettable day out.
Henry Moore: Monumental Nature runs at Kew Gardens from 9 May 2026 to 31 January 2027. Included with entry to Kew Gardens.
For more information and tickets, visit kew.org.
Works by Henry Moore reproduced by permission of The Henry Moore Foundation.
