The Garden has a robust collection of art that dates back to the 1950s. Pieces From the Moses Ezekiel famous artists statues, created in the 1800s, situated in the picturesque Statuary Vista to the more modern contemporary pieces. Explore our diverse collection of Art in the Garden reflecting different time periods and style – something for everyone.
Statuary Vista features eleven, seven-foot tall statues carved from Cararra marble by Moses Ezekiel in Rome between 1879 and 1884 for William Wilson Corcoran, founder of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. These statues were originally designed to be set in second-story niches in the Corcoran Gallery. They depict notable painters and sculptors: Antonio Canova, Thomas Crawford, Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Durer, Michelangelo, Bartolome Murillo, Phidias, Raphael, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens and Titian. The majority of the statues were donated to the Garden in 1962 and 1963 by Richmond residents Bruce Dunstan and Vincent Speranza.
A capital campaign that began in 2013 raised $500,000 needed to restore, preserve and present the Ezekiel sculptures and to provide for their perpetual maintenance. The Moses Ezekiel Statuary Vista Garden was rededicated in October, 2016.
Hover over or tap each image to reveal details about the artwork.
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni
Antonio Canova
Thomas Crawford
Leonardo da Vinci
Albrecht Dürer
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Phidias
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (Raphael)
Rembrandt van Rijn
Sir Peter Paul Rubens
Tiziano Vecelli (Titian)
Virginia natives William H. Turner and David H. Turner, father and son, share a talent for capturing the beauty and motion of wildlife in bronze. NBG displays several of their works with the majority located in the Holly Garden, a 3-acre display of evergreen hollies set in garden “rooms.” Other locations include Eagle Plaza, along the canal and inside Rose Garden Hall.
Hover over or tap each image to reveal details about each artwork.
Bullfrog II
Artist: David H. Turner
For Patrick A. Sieracki, From parents Jennifer Sieracki & Walter Roe,
Dedicated September 7, 2000
Canada Goose
Artist: David H. Turner
Sitting Pelican
Artist: David H. Turner
In Loving Memory of “Mrs. Z” Geraldine H. Zeisberg
Kingfishers
Artist: William H. Turner
Meredith and Elaine Hutto, September 7, 2000
Standing River Otter
Artist: David H. Turner
Given By Page & Claiborne Fitchett, June 2000
Large Mouth Bass
Artist: David H. Turner
In Honor of The Garden Club of Norfolk & The Virginia Beach Garden Club
Given by Mr. & Mrs. Corydon M. Baylor, Jr.
Spring Break (Duck with Ducklings)
Artist: William H. Turner
Bald Eagle
Artist: William H. Turner
Located in Holly Garden
Preening Heron
Artist: Willam H. Turner
Located in Rose Garden Hall
Hunter Herons
Artists: David H. Turner and William H. Turner
Located alongside canal
A Gift in Honor of Hunter H. Savage from her Family, October 19, 1966
Bald Eagle for Eagle Plaza
Artist: David H. Turner
This plaza pays tribute to the female eagle who was killed in 2011 after colliding with an aircraft. The female and her mate returned annually to raise 19 eaglets before the tragic accident. The plaza was made possible by generous donations from eagle fans worldwide. It was established to recognize the eagle’s life and contribution to environmental education.
Designed and Created by Colonial Welding and Fabrication, Inc., Norfolk, Virginia
Located in the Bristow Butterfly Garden
Click on each image to show it at full size.
Eiar - Goddess of Spring
Statues were acquired by Amedeo Voltejo Obici (1877-1947)
Theros - Goddess of Summer
Statues were acquired by Amedeo Voltejo Obici (1877-1947)
Autumnus - Goddess of Fall
Statues were acquired by Amedeo Voltejo Obici (1877-1947)
The Gift
Located outside Rose Garden Hall entrance doors.
Windswept Pine
Located in the Sensory Garden in front of Education Complex entrance.
Virginia (Cardinal on Tree)
Located inside lobby of Baker Hall Visitor Center.
Reflections in Nature
Located in the Reflection Garden
Hover over or tap each image to reveal details about each artwork.
Hover over each image to reveal details about each artwork.
Mermaid "Lily"
Artist: Georgia Mason
American Eagle
Artist: unknown
Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Dunstan, In memory of his father Samuel B. Dunstan, 1962
St. Francis
Artist: Eleanor M. Melton
Located between Renaissance Court and the Border Garden.
Flower Clay Sculptures
Artist: Barbara Kobylinska, awaiting new location after The Garden of Tomorrow construction ends.
Breaking Ground
Artist: Kathleen Farrell
Located in the WPA Memorial Garden
Cubic Lattice
Artist: Anton Bakker
Located next to Baker Overlook
Ancient Witness
Concrete Faux Bois sculpted by Diane Husson, 2016
Located in the Conservatory
Madonna and Child
Artist: Amleto Cataldi (1882-1930), located in the Purity Garden
Restoration of the sculpture was completed, in May 2022, by the firm Materials Conservation located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gift of Mrs. Eleonora C. Lutz
Presented and Maintained by the Lochhaven Garden Club, Norfolk, Virginia
Snapper
Artist: Jean Owen
Located in the Figure Eight Garden
This terracotta sculpture was the first piece of statuary acquired by Fred Heutte for the Garden.
The Farmers
Artist: Ccopacatty
Peruko Ccopacatty (b. 1946, Peruvian)
Farmers, 1985
Sculpture
Peruko Ccopacatty is an internationally acclaimed artist recognized for creating larger-than-life sculptures and public murals that convey themes of family, work, struggle, and triumph. Born on Lake Titicaca in the Andes of Peru, Ccopacatty is an indigenous artist of Aymara descent. His work expresses his personal identification with his rich cultural heritage while focusing on the power of art to express the universal human experience. He attended the National School of Fine Arts in Lima, Peru, graduating in 1976 with the “Medalla de Oro”, the highest honor in sculpture. He immigrated to the United States in 1981 during the Peruvian Conflict to pursue his career as an artist. Norfolk, VA was home to his first exhibitions of public art between 1980—1985, including ‘Farmers’, originally commissioned for the Norfolk Farmer’s Market. Ccopacatty specializes in pieces that mimic the movement of living forms through the insinuation of tendons, bones, and muscles. The fluidity of his work is achieved through his open construction technique and his mastery of metal work. Through the reuse of discarded materials and the transformation of salvaged metal into art, he aims to convey the idea that humans can be a part of the solution to the scarcity of resources and the unintended impacts of progress. Peruko Ccopacatty received the United Nations Society of Writers and Artists Award of Excellence in 2003 for a life’s work of social relevance. He also received the honor of a solo exhibit of sculpture in the main hall of the UN New York headquarters. He believes art is a necessary form of social expression and promotes the coming together of community through shared experience. All of his pieces carry one common thread. We’re in this together. These sculptures were generously donated in memory of Bess and Julius Peck by their extended families.
Dancing Girls
Artist: Mario Korbel
Intertwined
Artist: Mark Grieve & Ilana Spector
Located at entrance at Azalea Garden Road
“Intertwined” is a 20′ tall stainless steel sculpture by Mark Grieve & Ilana Spector of Petaluma, CA comprised of three entwined common garden forms arranged in a contemporary, joyous composition. A familiar common tool shape ties together the many themes of Norfolk Botanical Garden – the seasons, botany, community, pruning, planting & a connection to the land, history & men & women of the WPA. Organic forms connect in an illogical order harmonizing the garden site creating a conceptual intersection related to the man-made & natural rhythms of the garden.
Indoor exhibits are on display year round in the Baker Hall Visitor Center. Rotating exhibits of painting, photography and other media highlight the beauty of the natural world. Additional temporary exhibits may be seen in the Education Complex hallway.
January 1 – February 28th
Diversity Gallery
Highlighting the talented artist in our local community.
Garden Club – WPA
This life-size painting Garden Club – WPA was created by award-winning Norfolk artist Maizelle and has been showcased at the Chrysler Museum of Art. It pays tribute to the 220 African American women and men, who, as part of a depression-era Works Progress Administration project, transformed swampland into the beautiful Garden we know today. The Garden has received enough donations to acquire the painting for the Garden’s permanent art collection for future generations to enjoy. Thank you to all who contributed!
Please help us to maintain the WPA Memorial Garden and continue to tell the story of the WPA workers and their legacy for future generations. Your contribution, small or large, makes a big difference to the Garden and to our community.
