The Storm King Art Center in New York is more than 500 acres (just over 2 km²) of hills, meadows, and groves transformed into an open-air museum of contemporary art. Founded in the 1960s, it is now considered one of the largest and most influential sculpture parks in the United States.
Here you can see works by some of the world’s leading sculptors, including Isamu Noguchi, Louise Bourgeois, Richard Serra, Alexander Calder, and many others.
Storm King Art Center in Autumn
Late autumn can be a risky time to visit: the weather changes quickly and the days are short. But I actually enjoyed it — the leafless trees made the horizon feel open and clean, creating a striking contrast between the blue sky and the green grass. Against this backdrop, the sculptures — some the size of small houses, others as large as full buildings — stand quietly and effortlessly.
It may sound cliché, but photographs simply cannot convey the experience of walking through the park. It’s hard to describe the pleasure of slowly exploring land art among sunlit hills and the natural landscape of upstate New York.
Three Legged Buddha
One of the most impressive sculptures is Three Legged Buddha: a 28-ton bronze figure nearly 8 meters tall. Even in a vast space like Storm King, it feels like an apparition from another world — sudden, massive, mythological. Its creator is Zhang Huan, one of the most prominent contemporary artists from China.
What’s Nearby
Storm King is located about an hour’s drive from New York City and twenty minutes from the Magazzino Italian Art museum.
There is also an excellent garden nearby, designed in the style of traditional English gardens — Stonecrop Gardens (stonecrop.org). I haven’t visited yet, but most likely, like you, I’m adding it to my to-visit list.
Useful Information
Address: Storm King Art Center / 1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY 12553
Admission: $25.00
Website: stormking.org
