Over the past 30 years, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids has surprised and delighted more than 15 million visitors from all over the world, yet many Michiganders on our side of the state might not be aware of its charms.
The 158-acre cultural destination — which has been recognized among the 100 most-visited art museums globally and 15 most-visited in the country by The Art Newspaper — opened in April 1995 after 13 years of planning and fundraising by the West Michigan Horticultural Society. It was in 1990 that the organization’s vision began to take shape, when Fred and Lena Meijer embraced the concept of a major horticulture and sculpture attraction and agreed to lend their support and donate 70 acres of land along East Beltline Avenue. Since then, the park has doubled in size, with yet another 200 acres earmarked for future development.
Meijer Gardens currently boasts five indoor theme gardens, plus outdoor gardens, nature trails, and a boardwalk. It also has Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory and the 8-acre Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden designed by famed landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu. The Japanese garden celebrates 10 years in 2025. In addition, there’s a café with a globally inspired menu, a gift shop with original and handmade items, a library, meeting rooms, and an education center.
Indoor galleries and the grounds are home to a permanent sculpture collection with more than 300 works by masters such as Auguste Rodin, Edgar Degas, Barbara Hepworth, Mark di Suvero, and Ai Weiwei. And every summer, the outdoor amphitheater hosts the much-anticipated Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens featuring big-name performers.
An exciting announcement that should pique Detroiters’ interest even more is the arrival of Cranbrook Academy of Art alum Nick Cave’s first-ever public outdoor sculpture. A nearly 26-foot-tall bronze human figure entangled with flowers, birds, and branches, it represents themes of transformation, resilience, and connection to nature. “Amalgam (Origin)” will be installed in October and become part of Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection.
Metro Detroiters may remember the artist’s Nick Cave: Here Hear project back in 2015, comprising seven months of staged events throughout Detroit in connection with his first solo exhibition (of the same name) at the Cranbrook Art Museum.
Also coming to Meijer Gardens in late October 2025 and on exhibit until mid-March 2026 is Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism. The first retrospective in the U.S. by this distinguished international artist, it will feature large- and small-scale sculptures and two-dimensional works spanning three decades.
Another highlight of 2026 is Chihuly at Meijer Gardens, an exhibit that will be on display May 1 through Nov. 1 in indoor galleries and woven throughout outdoor gardens. The perfect backdrop for his masterpieces, Meijer Gardens already has three permanent Dale Chihuly glass sculptures and hosted previous exhibitions in 2002 and 2010.
Unlike many other public gardens, Meijer Gardens has a draw in every season, which may be one of the reasons it’s been named best sculpture park in the nation three years running by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This fall, be sure to check out its Autumn Nights every Tuesday in October — and mark your calendars for its annual winter light show, Enlighten, and, in the spring, the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the U.S. For more details, go to meijergardens.org.
This story originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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