Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) in Burlington, Ontario, will host "ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey," the first Canadian exhibition by artist Ken Kelleher (known as Anchorball), opening June 20, 2026 and running through September 20, 2026. The exhibition features 18 large-scale monumental sculptures up to 12 feet tall, including series like Venus Floralis, Main Characters (Willy, Winky, Bunni B, Quantum Leap), and Florals, alongside an augmented reality experience with hidden digital elements accessible via smartphone. The show marks RBG's largest and most ambitious exhibition to date, coinciding with its 85th anniversary.
This exhibition matters because it represents RBG's strategic expansion into contemporary cultural programming, positioning the botanical garden as a destination for both nature and art. By blending monumental sculpture, digital interactivity, and natural landscapes, the project aims to attract local and tourist audiences, strengthening Ontario's cultural tourism sector. It also introduces Canadian audiences to Kelleher's internationally recognized pop-art style, demonstrating how botanical gardens can evolve into immersive cultural venues that offer innovative, multi-sensory experiences.