There’s no better place to see the monumental works by sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986) than outdoors. Moore in the Gardens is just such an exhibition. Through January 2011, the Denver Botanic Garden will showcase the British sculptor’s work on its two campuses, allowing his convex surfaces and concave interiors to play against the texture and scale of the natural world. Visitors will find monumental reclining figures and colossal abstracted forms throughout the Gardens’ York Street location (1007 York Street, Denver, Colorado); two works stand in front of a unique foothills backdrop at the Chatfield site (8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, Colorado).

Pictured (left) is Moore’s “Large Reclining Figure”, 1984 (LH192b) image reproduced by permission of The Henry Moore Foundation

To facilitate better understanding of Moore’s process, before going outdoors visit “Henry Moore: Creative Vision”—an indoor exhibition that offers a selection of maquettes (small working models) used by the artist to solve visual and spatial problems before creating large works like those seen on the grounds. This installation also includes found objects and tools. Moore was known to refer to this working space as his “library of natural forms.”

For a quick look at what’s blooming at the Denver Botanic Gardens, go online.