Exhibits & Installations

In addition to our permanent display houses featuring gorgeous landscape architecture, we host a variety of dynamic exhibits and installations from Chicago-based artists, community members, and Conservatory staff. Peruse some of our most recent exhibits below, and check back for updates on our future and upcoming exhibit plans.

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Spring Flower Show: Snow Day!

The Garfield Park Conservatory’s 2023 Spring Flower Show returns February 15th! This year’s show, “Bee’s Knees” is a peek into the wondrous relationship between bees and blooms. Beautiful blooming Spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, hydrangeas, and delphiniums will be featured this year. Empty observation and demo hives from GPC’s beekeeping program are set amongst the blooms, giving a glimpse into the world of a bee. 

 

The Spring Flower Show: Bee’s Knees February 15 through May 14, 2023.
Reservations required.  Click here to book a visit. 

Persian Lilies

By Dale Chihuly
See it in Aroid House

Reciprocally Prickly

By Chris Garofalo
See it in Desert House

Bulls with Maidens

Designed by Daniel C. French and Edward C. Potter for the Columbia Exposition of 1893
See them in the Outdoor Gardens

Zellij Fountain

By Said Ben Adiba, Hassan Jemghili, and Jawad Rizki
See it in Horticulture Hall

Pastoral and Idyl

By Lorado Taft
See them at the top of Fern Room

Flyway

By student artists at Howe School of Excellence and Kat Powers
See it in the Community Room

A History in Photographs

Photos from the Chicago Park District Special Collections
See it in the Jensen Room

The Beacon

By Luftwerk
See it outside Palm House at night

Labyrinth

See it outside Sugar from the Sun

Garden Nouveau

The 2022 Artist’s Garden exhibit Garden Nouveau is an homage to the Art Nouveau movement. Art Nouveau was influenced by the emerging science of botany and the shape and movement of nature. The garden layout is inspired by many of the motifs seen throughout the architecture and design of this art style. Garden Nouveau will showcase many of the flowers Élisabeth Sonrel, an artist known for magnificent posters and watercolors, painted such as lilies, roses, hydrangeas, and oleanders.  

This seasonal outdoor exhibit was open July 6, 2022 – October 2, 2022.

Knock Knock: Spring Flower Show

Knock Knock! Who’s there? The 2022 Spring Show!  

The Garfield Park Conservatory’s 2022 Spring Flower Show “Knock Knock” was a fun, playful reprieve from the long Chicago winter. Beautiful blooming flowers, including tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils, and hyacinth, were featured this year. Doors from the Rebuilding Exchange were hung among the blooms and there was be an abundance of knock knock jokes throughout the Show House.

The Spring Flower Show: Knock Knock ran February 26 through May 8, 2022.

Serenity: Winter Flower Show

The Winter Flower Show, Serenity, evoked a feeling of tranquility to remind visitors that the natural world is a great source of calm amidst the hectic season.  Pink poinsettias will help to calm anxiety, while plants with silver foliage will relax the mind.  Pleasant scents will remind visitors of the outdoors, and provide aromatherapy throughout the room.  New this year, the show featured many blooming flowers, which is atypical for a display during winter’s shorter days.  Blossoms such as hyacinth, zinnias, salvias, and cosmos filled the room with their own brand of peace on earth.

Still Life in Real Life

The 2021 Artist’s Garden exhibit  Still Life in Real Life: Charles Ethan Porter was filled with fruits and flowers that can be found in the still life paintings of African American artist Charles Ethan Porter; including strawberries, carnations, violets, sunflowers and much more. It ran from July 28 through October 17. 

Spring Flower Show: Saturation

Saturation concentrates groups of blooming flowers so that visitors will be able to see and understand the wide range of hues and tints within each color and enjoy their vivid, rich and intense nuances. Saturday, February 27 through Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9.

The Flowers of Monet

September 5 through October 31, 2020.

Spring Flower Show: Golden Hour

Friday, February 14 through March 17, 2020. This exhibit closed early due to COVID-19.

A Genius of the Spot

Saturday, January 11 – Sunday, March 8, 2020

2019 Winter Show: Invisible Forces

November 29,2019 – January 5, 2020

2019 Spring Show: Understory

February 14, 2019 – May 12, 2019

2018 Holiday Show: Tickled Pink

November 23, 2018 – January 6, 2019

The Persistence of the Unsorted

Artist in Residence Exhibit

 

2018 Spring Show: Hashtag No Filter

February 10, 2018 – May 13, 2018

2017 Holiday Show: Fire and Ice

November 24, 2017 – January 7, 2018

2017 Spring Show: Spring Training

February 18, 2017 to May 14, 2017

2016 Holiday Show: Sky Forest

November 24, 2016 to January 8, 2017

solarise: a sea of all colors

September 23, 2015 to September 22, 2016