Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, Sculpture garden at UCLA campus, United States
The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden is a five-acre outdoor art space on the UCLA campus displaying over 70 modern sculptures across landscaped grounds. The works are arranged along brick pathways and surrounded by coral trees and other vegetation.
It opened in 1967 under UCLA Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy's leadership, transforming a campus area into a public outdoor art exhibition space. The founding reflected the university's commitment to making contemporary art accessible beyond museum walls.
The collection displays works by international artists like Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, and Alexander Calder, representing different approaches to sculpture. Visitors encounter pieces that show how modern sculptural practice has evolved across generations.
The garden is free to visit and can be accessed through UCLA campus parking areas. Wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven, and allow time to walk slowly around the sculptures to appreciate them from different perspectives.
Each sculpture occupies its own space in the garden, allowing visitors to examine the works from multiple angles with the California landscape as a backdrop. This arrangement means no single piece overshadows or blocks another.
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