How might gardens be seen as places of creativity and imagination? Explore the garden as a form of artistic expression on par with painting, sculpture...
March 25–June 3, 2026
Living Art: Gardens Across Time, Culture, and Creativity
John Henry Dearle, Tapestry: Greenery (detail), designed for Morris & Co., 1892. Wool and mohair; tapestry weave. Charles Potter Kling Fund and Museum purchase with funds donated anonymously and from Jody and Tom Gill, Suzanne Dworsky, Heidi Nitze, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lee Perry, Ann Clarkeson, Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, Inc., Lynne Rickabaugh, Penny Vinik, Brigitte Moufflet, Doris May, Mrs. I. W. Colburn, Kathleen Kemper, and Edith I. Welch.
John Henry Dearle, Tapestry: Greenery (detail), designed for Morris & Co., 1892. Wool and mohair; tapestry weave. Charles Potter Kling Fund and Museum purchase with funds donated anonymously and from Jody and Tom Gill, Suzanne Dworsky, Heidi Nitze, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lee Perry, Ann Clarkeson, Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, Inc., Lynne Rickabaugh, Penny Vinik, Brigitte Moufflet, Doris May, Mrs. I. W. Colburn, Kathleen Kemper, and Edith I. Welch.
Accompanying the exhibition “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination,” this course looks at gardens as dynamic works of art and enduring sources of creative inspiration across cultures, media, and centuries. Through the perspectives of curators, artists, landscape architects, and others, explore gardens as sites of artistic practice, scientific inquiry, and cultural expression—from Gilded Age estate landscapes and East Asian imperial gardens to botanical illustration and contemporary studio practices. Consider how gardens shape and are shaped by artistic movements, technological innovation, institutional history, and lived experience, and discover the garden not merely as a decorative setting, but as a vital form of art that bridges nature and human creativity.
Ticket Packages
Purchase the discounted nine-session course package. Please note that this course package is not available after the date of the first session.
Please note there are no sessions on Wednesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 28.
Tickets (Member / Nonmember)
In-Person $216/$270
Online $117/153
In-Person Package Livestream Package
For more information and to purchase tickets for individual sessions, select from the section below.
Upcoming Events
Lecture
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Newport’s Gilded Age gave rise not only to iconic American mansions, but to glorious estate landscapes, which were the premier residential gardens of...
Lecture
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Gardens, and the plants that are carefully cultivated within them, have been a source of continued inspiration for artists working in ceramics...
Lecture
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
The technological breakthrough of photography during the mid-19th century played a fascinating role in our changing relationship with the landscape...
Lecture
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Dive into the MFA’s collection of prints and drawings to see how and why artists over centuries have approached documenting flowers through different...
Lecture
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Wonderful gardens are scattered throughout Japan, but the greatest concentration is in the city of Kyoto, Japan’s imperial capital for more than one...
Lecture
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Diverse peoples of Latin America have shaped and cultivated their environments for over thousands of years and continue to do so today. In this...
Lecture
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
The annual rituals of growing plants and making a garden provide imagery, forms, and colors for Andrew Raftery’s drawings, engravings, transfer...
Lecture
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Plants are enchanting; they inspire reverence and glorification across the arts. As a living medium, plants are the most dynamic part of garden design...
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Livestream Tickets
The livestream ticket gives access to a live feed of the event that can be watched remotely. You must be logged in to the account used to purchase the ticket in order to access the livestream on the Video Content page. Please log in at least 5 minutes before the start of the event to test your connection.
Livestream ticket holders must watch the event live; there is no recording of the event available for viewing at a later time.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.