History of the Elizabeth and Byron Anderson Sculpture Garden
The Elizabeth and Byron Anderson Sculpture Garden was made possible with a gift to Iowa State University by Elizabeth Anderson in memory of her husband, Byron.
Sculptures from the Art on Campus Collection and Christian Petersen Art Collection are permanently displayed in the Anderson Sculpture Garden alongside rotating two-year exhibitions by contemporary American public sculptors. Past exhibitions have featured works of Bill Barrett, William King, Gwynn Murrill, Charles Ginnever, and most recently Thomas Stancliffe.
“The Elizabeth and Byron Anderson Sculpture Garden is an intimate outdoor space adjacent to Morrill Hall. Elizabeth Brookhart Anderson, a former student of campus sculptor-in-residence Christian Petersen, made a gift to establish this garden in memory of her husband in 2008. The garden is partially situated in a courtyard formed by Morrill Hall on the east and the Hub on the west. Here, the masonry walls of these two buildings provide a semiprivate enclosure for the enjoyment of sculpture, including several casts of Christian Petersen’s art. The garden extends along the walkway running south of Morrill Hall and across Morrill Road to the east, where Christian Petersen’s Panthers were installed in 2012. Planted with a variety of plant material, including ferns, hostas, roses, yews, and flowering trees, this garden marries art and nature to create a tranquil and verdant space.”
– Campus Beautiful, pg. 305
The gardens today
The Elizabeth and Byron Anderson Sculpture Garden wraps around historic Morrill Hall. Shaded by flowering greenery, winding footpaths take visitors through works of primarily twentieth and twenty-first century American sculpture. This ranging collection of art represents the diverse character of modern and contemporary sculpture in a natural, accessible setting.
The garden reflects Iowa State’s long tradition of a beautiful, open campus first envisioned by its first president, Adonijah Welch. Located just northwest of central campus, it continues the university’s dedication to public art.
