The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., will officially reopen its revitalized 1.3-acre outdoor sculpture garden on October 31, 2026. The reopening follows a four-year, $68 million USD transformation and marks a major new chapter for one of the Smithsonian’s most distinctive art spaces.
Led by Japanese artist and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto, the project represents the most comprehensive overhaul of the Hirshhorn campus since its 1974 debut. Sugimoto previously redesigned the museum’s lobby. This time, his intervention preserves the original modernist character of architect Gordon Bunshaft’s design while introducing new infrastructure and public-facing features.
Most importantly, the renovation reconnects the museum, central plaza and sculpture garden through a reopened underground tunnel. The passage had been closed for half a century. As a result, visitors will gain a more direct physical route between the museum’s indoor galleries and its outdoor collection.
A New Landscape for Sculpture
When the garden reopens, the redesigned landscape will accommodate 60 sculptures, nearly twice its previous capacity. Alongside the permanent presentation, rotating exhibitions will introduce new perspectives on the collection and contemporary sculpture.
The curatorial approach will connect postwar modernism with current artistic practices. Works from founding donor Joseph Hirshhorn’s collection by Auguste Rodin, Alberto Giacometti, Barbara Hepworth, and Henry Moore will appear alongside newer acquisitions.
Meanwhile, artists including KAWS, Izumi Kato, Lauren Halsey, and Raven Halfmoon will bring contemporary voices into the expanded outdoor setting. This combination creates a dialogue between established sculptural traditions and evolving approaches to public art.
The landscape itself also becomes an active component of the museum experience. A larger central reflecting pool will provide a flexible gathering point. Moreover, the pool can be drained and converted into a performance amphitheater, allowing the garden to accommodate events beyond conventional sculpture presentation.
Expanding Public Art on the National Mall
Dedicated exhibition zones will further diversify the garden’s programming. The reopening programme will begin with Yoshitomo Nara: Sentinels of Stillness, adding a focused presentation to the broader outdoor collection.
Consequently, the revitalized garden is designed not only as a sculpture display but also as a flexible civic and cultural space. Its expanded capacity, improved connections, and adaptable landscape support the Hirshhorn’s goal of making contemporary art more accessible to broad audiences.
At the same time, Sugimoto’s approach maintains a connection to the museum’s architectural history. By working within Bunshaft’s modernist framework rather than replacing it, the renovation positions the garden as an evolution of the Hirshhorn’s original vision.
Hirshhorn Museum
Independence Ave SW &, 7th St SW,
Washington, DC 20560, United States