08/04/04

Intriguing statues and lush, green lawns grace the expanse of this urban retreat with a Zen-like peace.

by Contributor

The Scene
Connecting the Museum of Fine Arts to the Glassell School of Art is the Cullen Sculpture Garden. Meticulously tended and admirably designed, the garden rises above typical parks-and-recreation locations, with prominent modernist masterworks mingling with the native Texas foliage. The surrounding museums compete for attention, but the swirling pathways, contrasted with the stark, straight lines of the city, invite visitors to stay and wander.

The Collection
The garden boasts a collection more famous than its neighboring museums. Louise Bourgeois, Alberto Giacometti and Frank Stella are some of the big names in this little garden dedicated to "artists who have shaped the course of sculpture in the 20th century." Commissioned works from Houston artists ground the garden in its urban environment, notably "Houston Triptych" by Ellsworth Kelly and "Can Johnny Come Out and Play?" by Jim Love.