Socrates Sculpture Park, Sculpture garden in Astoria, Queens, United States.
Socrates Sculpture Park is a four-acre waterfront space displaying contemporary outdoor sculptures and installations with Manhattan's skyline as a backdrop across the East River. The grounds feature a mix of permanent and rotating artworks that respond to and interact with the natural and urban environment.
Artist Mark di Suvero converted an abandoned riverside industrial site into a public art space in 1986, achieving official city park status in 1998. This transformation marked the beginning of ongoing creative use for a formerly neglected waterfront location.
The space hosts rotating exhibitions with artists from around the world, creating moments where contemporary sculpture becomes part of everyday life for local residents. Visitors notice how the artworks invite people to pause and see familiar outdoor spaces in new ways.
The space is located at Broadway and Vernon Boulevard, welcoming visitors daily from sunrise to sunset with free access. Plan time to walk through at a relaxed pace, as the open grounds and various artworks encourage unhurried exploration.
The entrance features a rotating large-scale billboard artwork that changes with each exhibition, immediately signaling the current artistic program to arriving visitors. This visual announcement draws attention before visitors even step onto the grounds.
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