Oasis in the City: The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden at The Museum of Modern Art

Book Synopsis: The story of MoMA's sculpture garden

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden at the Museum of Modern Art holds a special place in the hearts of many, whether artists or museumgoers, New Yorkers or visitors from around the world. It is a respite from the crowds and skyscrapers that surround it, as well as a place to commune with major works of modern and contemporary art.

Through essays and archival images, this lavishly illustrated volume pays tribute to the Sculpture Garden's beauty and remarkable history over the past 80 years. Oasis in the City: The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden at The Museum of Modern Art features the sculptures that have become synonymous with the space, Philip Johnson's elegant and enduring design, and the Garden's diverse array of activities and events. From its inception in 1939, the Sculpture Garden—which launched the very concept of the garden as outdoor gallery for changing installations—has hosted exhibitions of sculpture by Alexander Calder, structures by Buckminster Fuller and Marcel Breuer, performances by Yayoi Kusama, and served as an important venue for music, dance, social gatherings and even protest.

Along with offering a behind-the-scenes history, this unique publication debuts a portfolio of images of the Sculpture Garden by eight prominent contemporary artists and photographers: Richard Pare, Candida Höfer, Tina Barney, Thomas Struth, Carrie Mae Weems, James Welling, Vera Lutter, and Hiroshi Sugimoto. These projects demonstrate that while the outdoor gallery is constantly changing with the seasons, new programming, and rotations of art on display, it continues to be an inspiration to artists and the broader public alike.