The Denver Botanic Gardens has launched "A New Humanism," the first U.S. retrospective of internationally acclaimed Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Commemorating the institution's 75th anniversary, the exhibition features approximately 30 works, including Plensa’s signature large-scale public sculptures, indoor resin figures, and mixed-media works on paper. The show spans three indoor galleries and the garden's outdoor landscapes, highlighting the artist's career-long exploration of the human form, language, and the concept of "invisibility" in art.
This exhibition is significant as it marks a major milestone for both the artist and the host institution, bringing world-class contemporary sculpture to a regional botanical setting. Plensa’s work, which often incorporates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and diverse alphabets, serves as a timely call for global peace and pluralism. By blending heavy materials like steel and stone with ethereal light and transparency, the retrospective reinforces Plensa’s status as a leading figure in public art who bridges the gap between physical presence and spiritual contemplation.