Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

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"Exploring this 11-acre sculpture garden at NOMA is one of the standout stops in town." - Caitlin Morton

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"This five-acre sculpture garden is a park within City Park, and acts as an open-air annex to the wonderful New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). 90 sculptures—mostly modern and abstract—are set among magnolias and live oaks, framed by bridges and reflecting pools, with world-renowned artists Henry Moore, Antoine Bourdelle, and Ossip Zadkine represented. The lake-set Virlane Tower by Kenneth Snelson is a favorite, as is the familiar Love, Red Blue sign by Robert Indiana, but it’s best to come without a map. Surprise and delight are over every bridge." - Paul Oswell

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

"Let’s start big picture here.This is a park within a park, and acts as an open-air annex to the wonderful New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). What looks like an nicely landscaped area of magnolias and live oak trees in fact houses 90 sculptures of varying scale. Paths, bridges, and reflecting pools all frame the artwork, collected and donated by the eponymous philanthropists and encompass works from artists all over the globe. Any standout features or must-sees?The sculptures and statues are mainly modern and abstract, and include world-renowned names such as Henry Moore, Antoine Bourdelle, and Ossip Zadkine. The lake-set Virlane Tower by Kenneth Snelson is a favorite, as is the familiar Love, Red Blue sign by Robert Indiana. Was it easy to get around?It’s best to meander without too much of a plan; in fact, going in knowing very little about what’s in store leaves more room for surprise and delight. It’s basically parkland, so there are no real accessibility challenges. That sounds cool. All said and done, what—and who—is this best for?Fans of sculpture or just curious minds who also like surprises will love the garden, and the large shapes and vibrant colors will also appeal to children. There’s almost a playground feel to the place." - Paul Oswell

"One of our favorite New Orleans experiences has nothing to do with eating or drinking. This enchanting five-acre garden is perfect for a wander around ponds and magnolia and live oak trees. There are also sixty-four sculptures by artists like Henry Moore and Kenneth Snelson. Originally intended as an offshoot of the New Orleans Museum of Art, the garden is an attraction all on its own. Come in the early morning or hazy late afternoon to see these wonders come alive when the light is most reflective."

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"Explore the five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA: it's arguably one of the country’s best, with works by icons like Renoir and Robert Indiana."