Missouri Botanical Garden - Niki 2008
From April 27 through October 31 2008, the Garden welcomes the passionate pop art of Niki in the Garden, an exhibition of 40 playful, larger-than-life mosaic sculptures in a rainbow of colors and materials. Gathered from around the world, and placed throughout the garden and Climatron, Niki works include nanas, animals, heroes, and totems, ranging from four to 18 feet tall. Some weigh a ton or more, such as the amazing six-ton skull.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Episodes
- 21
- Years Active
- 2008
Who are these ladies?
On Guide: n7
Sculpture: Nana on A Dolphin
Location: Dry Streambed Garden
Nikis powerful, playful females decorated with hearts and flowers, called Nanas, are among her best known works. These volupt…
Sculpture: Nana on A Dolphin
Location: Dry Streambed Garden
Nikis powerful, playful females decorated with hearts and flowers, called Nanas, are among her best known works. These volupt…
00:01:20 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Why did Niki create smaller pieces?
On Guide: n21
Sculpture: Oiseau amoreux
Location: Climatron
Niki was prolific in her production of large-scale sculpture and entire environments of art. But she also wanted to create pieces on a…
Sculpture: Oiseau amoreux
Location: Climatron
Niki was prolific in her production of large-scale sculpture and entire environments of art. But she also wanted to create pieces on a…
00:00:38 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
What Are The Skinnies?
On Guide: n22
Sculpture: Femme Bleu
Location: Shoenberg Temperate House
Air became part of Nikis artistic palette with her see-through The Skinnies, made of bronze and polyurethane paint. Niki saw N…
Sculpture: Femme Bleu
Location: Shoenberg Temperate House
Air became part of Nikis artistic palette with her see-through The Skinnies, made of bronze and polyurethane paint. Niki saw N…
00:00:20 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Who is Niki?
On Guide: n2
Sculpture: Arbres Serpent
Location: Spoehrer Plaza
Catherine Marie-Agnes de Saint Phalle was born in 1930 to an aristocratic family in France and raised in New York City. She was a some…
Sculpture: Arbres Serpent
Location: Spoehrer Plaza
Catherine Marie-Agnes de Saint Phalle was born in 1930 to an aristocratic family in France and raised in New York City. She was a some…
00:01:19 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
What Inspired This Piece?
On Guide: n13
Sculpture: Le Temple idal
Location: Outside Climatron
Le Temple idal, also known as the Church of all Religions, is the scale of a playhouse. Niki originally conceived the idea in the …
Sculpture: Le Temple idal
Location: Outside Climatron
Le Temple idal, also known as the Church of all Religions, is the scale of a playhouse. Niki originally conceived the idea in the …
00:00:31 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Who Are These Musicians? (Black Heroes/Musicians)
On Guide: n20
Sculpture: Louis Armstrong
Location: Cohen Amphitheater
In 1998, Niki began work on a series of Black Hero sculptures, paying tribute to prominent African-Americans. They included jazz…
Sculpture: Louis Armstrong
Location: Cohen Amphitheater
In 1998, Niki began work on a series of Black Hero sculptures, paying tribute to prominent African-Americans. They included jazz…
00:00:49 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
How Did Tarot Influence Niki?
On Guide: n21
Sculpture: Star Fountain
Location: Climatron
Two sculptures in this exhibitionStar Fountain and Arbres Serpent (n2)are closely related to Nikis Tarot Garden.
In the 1970s, inspired by …
Sculpture: Star Fountain
Location: Climatron
Two sculptures in this exhibitionStar Fountain and Arbres Serpent (n2)are closely related to Nikis Tarot Garden.
In the 1970s, inspired by …
00:01:20 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
How are Nikis sculptures made?
On Guide: n23
Sculpture: Buddha
Location: Outside Shoenberg Temperate House
Most of Nikis sculptures are made of polyurethane foam, some with a steel structure underneath. They are covered with polye…
Sculpture: Buddha
Location: Outside Shoenberg Temperate House
Most of Nikis sculptures are made of polyurethane foam, some with a steel structure underneath. They are covered with polye…
00:01:00 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
What Is This?
On Guide: n9
Sculpture: Obelisque bleu avec des fleurs
Location: Museum Building
Niki was acutely aware of contemporary events and social crises. In the 1980s, several of her closest friends, includi…
Sculpture: Obelisque bleu avec des fleurs
Location: Museum Building
Niki was acutely aware of contemporary events and social crises. In the 1980s, several of her closest friends, includi…
00:00:51 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Want to Get Inside Nikis Head?
On Guide: n15
Sculpture: La Cabeza
Location: Lehmann Rose Garden
This six-ton smiling skull was inspired by a trip Niki made to Mexico in the late 1970s.
She liked the cheerful way in which Mexican…
Sculpture: La Cabeza
Location: Lehmann Rose Garden
This six-ton smiling skull was inspired by a trip Niki made to Mexico in the late 1970s.
She liked the cheerful way in which Mexican…
00:00:45 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Who Are These Musicians? (Black Heroes/Musicians)
On Guide: n20
Sculpture: Miles Davis
Location: Cohen Amphitheater
In 1998, Niki began work on a series of Black Hero sculptures, paying tribute to prominent African-Americans. They included jazz mus…
Sculpture: Miles Davis
Location: Cohen Amphitheater
In 1998, Niki began work on a series of Black Hero sculptures, paying tribute to prominent African-Americans. They included jazz mus…
00:00:49 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Who Is Clarice?
On Guide: n11
Sculpture: Clarice again
Location: Near athletes (n10)
Clarice again, a painted polyester sculpture, is one of Nikis earliest works. She was inspired by the feminine curves of her pre…
Sculpture: Clarice again
Location: Near athletes (n10)
Clarice again, a painted polyester sculpture, is one of Nikis earliest works. She was inspired by the feminine curves of her pre…
00:00:46 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
A Quote from Niki
On Guide: n12
Sculpture: Guardian Lions
Location: Bottle Brush Buckeyes
By making gay, joyous sculpture maybe Im saying, Look, the world is awful but it is also great. So lets enjoy its greatness. M…
Sculpture: Guardian Lions
Location: Bottle Brush Buckeyes
By making gay, joyous sculpture maybe Im saying, Look, the world is awful but it is also great. So lets enjoy its greatness. M…
00:00:28 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Why Did Niki Sculpt Animals?
On Guide: n16
Sculpture: Seals
Location: Shapleigh Fountain
Niki said that for many years, a good deal of her work was concerned with bringing joy, color, and an aggressive humor and fantasy to life.
…
Sculpture: Seals
Location: Shapleigh Fountain
Niki said that for many years, a good deal of her work was concerned with bringing joy, color, and an aggressive humor and fantasy to life.
…
00:00:54 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
My Memory of Niki Laura Gabriela, Nikis daughter
On Guide: n17
Sculpture: Nikigator
Location: Near Kemper Center
My name is Laura Gabriela, and Im Nikis daughter. I remember Niki as the wise Nikigator.
Niki was undaunted by opposition, she wasnt …
Sculpture: Nikigator
Location: Near Kemper Center
My name is Laura Gabriela, and Im Nikis daughter. I remember Niki as the wise Nikigator.
Niki was undaunted by opposition, she wasnt …
00:01:18 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Why did Niki create smaller pieces?
On Guide: n4
Sculpture: Chairs
Location: Linnean House
Niki was prolific in her production of large-scale sculpture and entire environments of art. But she also wanted to create pieces on a dome…
Sculpture: Chairs
Location: Linnean House
Niki was prolific in her production of large-scale sculpture and entire environments of art. But she also wanted to create pieces on a dome…
00:00:38 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Who are these ladies?
On Guide: n5
Sculpture: Les Trois Grces
Location: Swift Family Garden
Nikis powerful, playful females decorated with hearts and flowers, called Nanas, are among her best known works. These voluptuo…
Sculpture: Les Trois Grces
Location: Swift Family Garden
Nikis powerful, playful females decorated with hearts and flowers, called Nanas, are among her best known works. These voluptuo…
00:01:20 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
My Memory of Niki - Marcelo Zitelli
On Guide: n6
Sculpture: Bird Head Totem
Location: Gladney Rose Garden
My name is Marcelo Zitelli, I worked with Niki the last 16 years of her life and now I am a trustee of the Niki Charitable Art F…
Sculpture: Bird Head Totem
Location: Gladney Rose Garden
My name is Marcelo Zitelli, I worked with Niki the last 16 years of her life and now I am a trustee of the Niki Charitable Art F…
00:02:08 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Did Native American culture influence Niki?
On Guide: n6
Sculpture: Large Yelling Man Totem
Location: Gladney Rose Garden
Nikis Totems reveal her exploration of Native American culture and traditions. She always admired American Indian totems …
Sculpture: Large Yelling Man Totem
Location: Gladney Rose Garden
Nikis Totems reveal her exploration of Native American culture and traditions. She always admired American Indian totems …
00:01:02 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Who are These Athletes? (Black Heroes/Athletes)
On Guide: n10
Sculptures: #19 Baseball Player, #23 Basketball Player, and Golf Player
Location: Near Mausoleum
When Niki became a great-grandmother, she began to reflect on her own experiences growi…
Sculptures: #19 Baseball Player, #23 Basketball Player, and Golf Player
Location: Near Mausoleum
When Niki became a great-grandmother, she began to reflect on her own experiences growi…
00:00:39 |
Tue 29 Apr 2008
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are the property of Missouri Botanical Garden. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by eachpod.com.