Artists Garden

The Artists Garden is situated within the original abbey walls at the rear of York Art Gallery. Together with the Edible Wood, it was created to coincide with the gallery’s £8 million development. The site is used to display contemporary art for free.

The two acres of land were previously closed off to the public but now link with the original York Museum Gardens and through to Exhibition Square via a new snickleway to the side of the gallery. Museum Garden opening times apply.

Please note: The Artists Garden and Edible Wood are closed between Monday 13 May – Friday 24 May. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this might cause.

Current Installations

Jade Blood: Gardener’s World

Blood’s installation is part of Bloom, a special exhibition at York Art Gallery. Jade Blood is an artist, printmaker and organiser based in York. She co-founded York Zine Fest, a free biannual self-publishing event and Artists with(out) green space, a project which encourages growing without a garden. Blood embeds ‘D.I.Y ethos’ and ‘radical ecology’ in her work, often working collaboratively and facilitating workshops alongside her practice.

Previous Installations

Michael Lyons: Ancient and Modern

25 May 2019 – May 2020

Large scale sculptures by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Lyons will be displayed in a major new outside exhibition in York. Find out more about Ancient and Modern.

The Pollinarium is a spatial laboratory that creates art installations around the world with an ecological and environmental theme. Find out more about The Pollinarium.

Foundation Myths was the first commission for the site and officially opened on 18 August 2016. The installation was created by Charles Holland of Ordinary Architecture, an art, architecture and design practice with an international profile. The installation, produced especially for the Artists Garden, drew on the rich history of the site and its many uses over the centuries. Visit the York Art Gallery website here to find out more.

The second installation in the Artists Garden was Leisure Land Golf by Doug Fishbone, which was open 3 June to 3 September 2017. The gallery successfully raised over £10,000 to loan the installation with an Art Happens campaign (Art Fund’s crowdfunding platform). The installation comprised of seven fully playable golf holes, each designed by a different artist. Find out more about the installation here.

York Art Gallery's Balcony and Artists Garden
York Art Gallery's Balcony and Artists Garden