Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! Made with LEGO® Bricks
Making its Florida Premiere at Mounts Botanical Garden
This beautiful, inspirational exploration of art and nature is set to open January 8, 2022
(West Palm Beach, FL – December 29, 2021) Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! Made with LEGO Bricks is set to make its Florida premiere at Mounts Botanical Garden, opening on Saturday, January 8 and running through Sunday, May 1. This new exhibition from acclaimed artist Sean Kenney features over 40 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO pieces and explores the beauty of nature through highly stylized, colorful displays that stand in striking contrast with their surroundings.
Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Nature POP! blends art, science, and innovation in the display of the New York-based artist’s newest, never-before-seen sculptures. Known for his ability to make striking works of art using simple LEGO toys, Kenney pushes the boundaries of the medium in this new exhibition through his use of vibrant colors and a bold, graphical style. Inspired by the Pop art movement, Kenney’s work on Nature POP! plays on that movement’s principles by blurring the boundaries between austere and the everyday, and draws from a belief that everything is interconnected.
Nature POP! invites guests to consider how just as LEGO bricks are interconnected, so is everything in nature. The intricate displays explore the relationships that exist in nature, whether that be the delicate balance between predators and prey, the commonalities between species as they care for their young, or the impact that humankind has on the natural world. Supporting content enhances the experience with scientific facts about the creatures presented in the displays.
Most importantly, the exhibition allows visitors to appreciate both nature and the sculptures as something beautiful, and to inspire them to go home and create something wonderful themselves. Presenting a playful spin on traditional sculptural art, Nature POP! is an accessible experience for all ages.
Tom Zaller, CEO of Imagine Exhibitions shared, “Imagine Exhibitions is proud to partner with Sean Kenney to bring the creative vision of Nature POP! to Mounts Botanical Garden. Sean’s work is not only awe-inspiring in its artistic qualities, but it’s also an incredible demonstration of the ways that human innovation and engineering can be used to solve problems and build something amazing.”
“We are very excited to welcome Sean Kenney back to the Garden to debut his new exhibition in Florida,” said Rochelle Wolberg, Curator-Director for Mounts Botanical Garden. “Nature POP! is the perfect way to launch the new year and is guaranteed to thrill visitors of all ages. It highlights our Season of Awe and Wonder.”
“We are so delighted to sponsor this exciting exhibit,” said Jan Cairnes, CEO for Hanley Foundation. “Hanley Foundation is the nonprofit statewide leader in adolescent substance use prevention and education, and we know how important family time is in preventing substance use disorder. We hope families will come together to enjoy this incredible opportunity to connect with nature and connect as a family. Family time is time well spent.”
Admire the colorful creations on display at Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! Made with LEGO Bricks, open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm (last entry at 3 pm) for a limited engagement through May 1, 2022. Tickets are available for purchase at the gate or online at mounts.org.
Lead sponsor for Nature POP! Is the Hanley Foundation. Select sculptures and murals are sponsored by Renée Rotta, Lewis Pollack and Iggy, and by an anonymous donor.
About Mounts Botanical Garden
With a mission to inspire and educate through nature, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Visitors to this 16-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas containing more than 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants, including Florida natives, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, bromeliads and much more. The award-winning Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland, completed in 2017, is a guest favorite.
Mounts Botanical Garden is part of the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Department, in partnership with the University of Florida and the non-profit Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden. This project is sponsored in part by The Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. Mounts Botanical is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit mounts.org.
About Hanley Foundation
Hanley Foundation envisions a world free of addiction, leading the way as the largest provider of educational programs that prevent underage drinking in the State of Florida. In addition to offering treatment scholarships to those in need and facilitating trainings to identify the signs of substance misuse, the Foundation works to reduce stigma and change policy through its advocacy efforts. The Foundation’s mission is to eliminate addiction through prevention, advocacy, treatment, and recovery support. For more information on Hanley Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.hanleyfoundation.org or call 561.268.2355.
About Imagine Exhibitions
Imagine Exhibitions is currently producing over 40 unique exhibitions globally in museums, science centers, zoos, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues, with millions of people around the world visiting our exhibitions each year. In addition to developing successful traveling exhibitions, Imagine Exhibitions designs, opens, and operates permanent installations and venues, and consults on building, expanding, and directing museums and attractions. With decades of diverse experience in the museum and entertainment industries, Imagine Exhibitions consistently develops exhibitions that educate and excite while exceeding attendance goals. For more information, visit ImagineExhibitions.com or find us on Facebook.
About Sean Kenney
Sean Kenney is an award-winning artist who uses LEGO pieces as a medium for contemporary sculpture, portraiture, and commercial art. He is recognized as one of the leading experts in the field and is a founding member of several global programs that aim to encourage and support this emerging art form. Millions of people have visited his exhibitions, he has authored 9 children’s books, and The LEGO Group collaborated with him as an official partner for 14 years. Sean’s work has been acclaimed by The New York Times, PBS Arts, BBC Arts, and Vogue, and he continues to create every day at his studio in Brooklyn. www.seankenney.com