This sculpture garden is the cherry on top for any art-lover visiting the Twin Cities. Although its curated gardens contrast with the wildness of other sculpture gardens like Franconia Sculpture Park, it remains a Twin Cities icon. This iconic sculpture garden is chock full of iconic works of art that helps define Walker Art Center as an art destination in Minnesota. Read more in this Minneapolis Sculpture Garden review about:

The Artwork

Don’t you get it?

The art at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is reflective of the Walker Art Center across the street. Just like the Walker, this sculpture garden stands as a monument to modern art.

Throughout my years of art appreciation, I’ve learned that ‘Modern Art’ is like the blue-cheese of the art world, meaning that either you will absolutely love it or you’ll hate it. But even for those in the camp who dislike ‘Modern Art’, the sculpture garden is still a great place to enjoy the outdoors in Minneapolis.

‘Iconic’ Artworks

It’s finally time to talk about the famous ‘Spoonbridge and Cherry’ (you knew it was coming). If you’ve never visited, you might think that it’s the only sculpture in the garden. This sculpture has become ubiquitous not only with the Walker Art Center, but Minneapolis as a whole. It’s worth seeing in person at least once for it’s minimalistic and boldly original attitude. You may even catch a glimpse of a rainbow in the spray of its fountain. 

There are many other sculptures to enjoy at the Minneapolis sculpture garden. Below are some of my favorites.

‘Spoonbridge and Cherry’
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen (1985-88)
Photo taken at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2024

‘Hahn/Cock’
Katharina Fritsch (2013-17)
Photo taken at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2024

‘Empire’
Eva Rothschild (2011)
Photo taken at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2024

‘Bronze Woman IV’
Thomas Schütte (1998-00)
Photo taken at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2024

‘Without Words’
Judith Shea (1988)
Photo taken at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2024

‘Labyrinth’
Dan Graham (1994-96)
Photo taken at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2024

Visiting Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Preparing for your visit

One thing that makes this sculpture garden ‘for everybody’ is its attention to accessibility. All sculptures are viewable by the flat, well-kept sidewalks that go through the park. Although street parking is available, a nearby parking lot makes it easy for people with mobility challenges to access the garden. Both methods require payment via app or credit card (bring quarters as a back up – their app and pay kiosk is frequently buggy).

For those coming on foot, a walking bridge gives access to the garden from the adjacent Loring Park neighborhood. This, attention to accessibility helps make the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden a welcoming place for everyone.

Things to do

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is run and curated by the Walker Art Center. On their website, the Walker has a self guided tour of the sculpture garden.

The Walker Art Center also has a schedule of events to participate in.

Around the area

The surrounding city is home to many attractions and restaurants. Here’s some nearby places to visit before or after the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.