Image: Jesse Moore, Sigh (The Morning You Left), 1993, poplar, steel, 92 x 108 x 72 inches, Grounds For Sculpture, Gift of The Seward Johnson Atelier and Tallur LN, Obituary Note, 2013, bronze, wood, 73 x 64 x 41 inches, Grounds For Sculpture, Purchase, photo: Roshni Khatri
Grounds For Sculpture is presenting 'Opening the Vault: A Look Inside the GFS Collection', an exhibition bringing newly acquired sculptures and works long held in the institution's permanent collection into view. It is on view from May 17 through December 31, 2026, in the Domestic Arts Building in Hamilton, New Jersey.
The presentation brings together works across a range of mediums, contexts and stories, including pieces by masters of American art alongside early works by artists who once apprenticed at the Johnson Atelier before finding success in other fields. Grounds For Sculpture describes the show as an exploration of the human experience through a visual spectrum of artistic expression, and presents it as an open-ended, collection-focused display.
Works identified by the institution include Tallur LN's 'Obituary Note' (2013), a bronze and wood sculpture acquired by purchase; Jesse Moore's 'Sigh (The Morning You Left)' (1993), in poplar and steel, a gift of the Seward Johnson Atelier; Joe Mooney's paired Cor-ten sculptures 'Icarus Falling' and 'Icarus Rising' (1992); and Layo Bright's '9:29. May 25, 2020. George Floyd Murder #147' (2025), in glass, oak and sand. Also represented are Raymond Kaskey, Christopher Cairns, Renee Wade, Michele Oka Doner, Arlene Love, Michael Malpass, Helena Lukasova and Willie Cole.
Rather than being shaped solely within the curatorial department, the project was developed by staff from Guest Services, Development, Education and Marketing with guidance from the curatorial team, who took part in selecting works, shaping themes, designing the gallery, writing interpretive materials and learning art handling and installation. It was guest curated by Caitlin Burns, Claire Cossaboon, Danielle Costello, Ariel DellArena, Caroline Fazzini, Colleen Molnar, Amy Musselman, Jan Kathleen Reyes, Rye Palasciano and Leah Southerland. Grounds For Sculpture says the structure places relationships to art, those of artists, audiences, staff and the spaces where they overlap, in conversation.
Members had a first look during Member Preview Day on May 16, 2026. Three other exhibitions are on view alongside it: 'That's Worth Celebrating: The Life and Work of the Johnson Family' (May 7, 2017 through December 31, 2026), 'Salvador Jimenez-Flores: Raices & Resistencias' (September 28, 2025 to August 1, 2027) and 'Lenapehoking Achimwisak Welapensit (Good Story Tellers of the Land of the Lenape): Arts by the Indigenous Youth of Lenapehoking' (June 27 to September 6, 2026). A further exhibition, 'Shantell Martin: Past, Present, Future', is due to open, with members previewing it on September 19, 2026.
Grounds For Sculpture is a nonprofit sculpture park, museum and accredited arboretum set on 42 acres in Hamilton, New Jersey, with more than 300 contemporary sculptures sited outdoors alongside indoor galleries and public programmes. Through September 6, 2026 the park stays open until 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with admission of $5 from 5 PM on Fridays through September 4 and $15 from 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. 'Opening the Vault' is made possible in part by the Brooke Barrie Art Fund, with support in part from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and from the Atlantic Foundation.
