Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden reopens with new art and plants on National Mall

The Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is reopening this weekend after extensive renovations, WTOP reported. The garden spans 1.3 acres and offers visitors a tranquil outdoor space amid the city's busy environment.

The redesign, led by artist-architect Hiroshi Sugimoto, includes intimate outdoor rooms with stacked stone walls for quiet reflection and viewing of sculptures. One featured piece is Auguste Rodin's Burgers of Calais, surrounded by chocolate cosmos flowers designed to complement the 60 sculptures in the garden.

The garden now contains 30,000 new trees and plants, increasing the number of artworks by 50% compared to before its 2022 closure. Thirty-seven sculptures purchased by Joseph Hirshhorn have been installed, with plans to rotate others from the museum's collection.

A notable restoration is the reopening of the underground passage beneath the street that connects the garden to the museum. This passage features the “Passage of Reflection” installation, consisting of reflective stainless-steel panels that distort reflections to create an impressionist effect as visitors walk through.

The renovation aims to enhance visitor experience by integrating art and nature, providing a serene setting for contemplation on the National Mall, according to Hirshhorn curator Marina Isgro.