Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden Unveils Major Revitalization on National Mall
The Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has completed a significant revitalization of its outdoor space on the National Mall. This transformation, the largest in the museum's history, was led by artist and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto and his Tokyo-based firm, New Material Research Laboratory. Key enhancements include the reopening of an underground passageway connecting the museum to the garden, an expanded reflecting pool featuring Sugimoto’s Kuen Surface stainless steel sculpture, and a wider north entrance from the National Mall accented by Elmgreen & Dragset’s Eight installation. The project has increased the number of sculptures on view from 35 to 60, added 57 new trees and approximately 30,000 plants, and introduced a new flexible West Lawn Gallery for large-scale installations and performances. The Hirshhorn, which first opened in 1974, aims to offer an enhanced experience of modern and contemporary art, with works by renowned artists such as Auguste Rodin, Yoko Ono, Pablo Picasso, and ...
