Past Exhibits

Bold, monumental sculptures of Japanese American artist Jun Kaneko were located throughout the Garden trails. Kaneko’s colorfully glazed ceramic and bronze forms were beautifully set in the rich backdrop of the Garden’s desert flora. Kaneko’s imaginative color palettes, whimsical Tanukis and iconic Dango forms made for an enjoyable experience for guests of all ages. 

Arizona-based artist David T. Kessler’s dynamic waterscape paintings incorporated abstract and realistic imagery. Each piece captured the qualities of refracted light with transparent layers of paint on abraded and polished aluminum. Kessler’s large-scale paintings evoked a romantic response to nature, one that praised the sublime and awe-inspiring vistas.

Space in Between was a collaboration between artist Margarita Cabrera, the Arizona State University Art Museum and Desert Botanical Garden. Cabrera led workshops with communities from the Arizona region to create soft sculptures of desert plants made from recycled Border Patrol uniforms and embroidered with personal stories of immigration. Additional support for the project was provided by the CALA Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts, The Institute of Museum and Library Services, Museums for America Grant Number MA-20-14-0236-14, the Mexican Consulate, Southwest Key, and Latino youth from the Phoenix community.

A retrospective exhibition celebrating the 25-year career of botanical artist Dyana Hesson. Hesson is known for her radiant, detailed oil paintings of botanicals — roses, hibiscus, orchids, bromeliads, succulents and cactus flowers. Her sophisticated technique creates beautifully illuminated paintings that truly encapsulate her passion for the natural world.

Bruce Munro: Sonoran Light at Desert Botanical Garden showcased eight large-scale, light-based installations using an inventive array of materials and hundreds of miles of glowing fiber optics. Located throughout the Garden, British artist Bruce Munro’s site-specific exhibition reflected his unique interpretation of the Sonoran Desert.

Captivating portraits of nature by celebrated artist Laszlo Layton. This exhibition featured cyanotype photographs of fascinating animals and objects that evoke charm and curiosity. The cyanotype, also known as the “blueprint,” is created with a simple chemical solution that forms a light-sensitive emulsion known for its cyan-blue color. Layton hand-paints each photograph, giving his subjects a vivid, lifelike enchantment.

Don’t miss this living exhibit that features more than a thousand free-flying Southwestern butterflies.

Desert Botanical Garden is embarking on a new partnership with London-based pioneering artist studio ScanLAB Projects, bringing its groundbreaking visual and technical artwork here in 2025. The exhibit will be a first-of-its-kind in the Valley to connect science and nature at this scale in both indoor and outdoor environments.