The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) has announced that artist KAWS (Brian Donnelly) will take over its 250-acre landscape in 2027 with a large-scale, unnamed exhibition featuring his iconic sculptures such as Companion, BFF, and Chum. The show follows the model of NYBG's 2021 "Cosmic Infinity" exhibition by Yayoi Kusama, which drew around 845,000 visitors. The announcement also coincides with NYBG's current "Van Gogh's Flowers" display and a planned 2026 orchid show by Mr. Flower Fantastic.
The KAWS exhibition matters because it signals NYBG's continued strategy of pairing blockbuster contemporary artists with its natural setting to drive record-breaking attendance and engage broad audiences. KAWS, a polarizing figure who straddles fine art and commercial realms, has proven his drawing power with past museum shows at the Brooklyn Museum and Crystal Bridges. The 2027 takeover will likely generate sold-out tickets and intense fan interest, further cementing the trend of botanical gardens as major venues for contemporary art experiences.