Location

Overview

The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden stands as one of the most significant outdoor sculpture collections in the Western United States—a free, publicly accessible museum featuring over 70 works by the most important sculptors of the 20th and 21st centuries. Spread across more than five landscaped acres on UCLA's Westwood campus, the garden represents decades of thoughtful acquisition and curation, now managed by the prestigious Hammer Museum. What makes the Murphy Garden exceptional is its concentration of masterwork quality in an accessible urban setting. Unlike remote sculpture parks that require dedicated pilgrimages, Murphy Garden integrates seamlessly into UCLA's campus life while remaining open to all visitors. Students, faculty, art enthusiasts, and curious passersby share these acres, creating a democratic art experience that fulfills the garden's founding vision: bringing world-class sculpture into daily life. The collection reads like a who's-who of modern sculpture. Jean Arp's biomorphic forms explore organic abstraction. Deborah Butterfield's horses, constructed from found materials, blur boundaries between natural and constructed forms. Alexander Calder's signature mobiles and stabiles bring kinetic energy and bold color. Barbara Hepworth's elegant abstractions demonstrate the British sculptor's mastery of form and void. Jacques Lipchitz's powerful bronzes carry the weight of European modernism. Henry Moore's reclining figures—perhaps the most iconic sculptures of the 20th century—anchor the collection with monumental presence. Auguste Rodin's "The Walking Man" connects the collection to sculpture's roots in figurative expression. David Smith's welded steel constructions represent American sculptural innovation. Beyond these canonical names, the garden features works by Henri Matisse ("The Four Backs," a remarkable series of bas-reliefs), Gaston Lachaise, Henri Laurens, Francisco Zúñiga, and many others who defined modern sculpture's evolution. This depth of collection rivals many museums' permanent holdings—the difference being that Murphy Garden charges no admission and imposes no visiting hours. The landscape design complements rather than competes with the sculpture. Mature trees provide shade and frame works; open lawns allow monumental pieces to command space; pathways guide circulation while permitting casual wandering. The integration is so natural that discovering sculptures feels organic—you round a corner and encounter a Calder, sit on a bench facing a Moore. This casual accessibility is intentional: art should enhance life, not be separated from it. UCLA's stewardship, particularly through the Hammer Museum's oversight, ensures professional maintenance and thoughtful presentation. Works are conserved, labels are maintained, and the collection continues to evolve through strategic acquisitions. The Hammer's academic programs department offers tours that provide context and interpretation for those seeking deeper engagement. The garden's location in Westwood—one of LA's most accessible neighborhoods—makes visiting practical for locals and tourists alike. Public transportation serves UCLA; parking is available (though fees apply); the campus itself offers additional cultural attractions including the Hammer Museum proper, Fowler Museum, and beautiful Romanesque architecture. For photography enthusiasts, Murphy Garden offers endless compositional opportunities. The interplay of sculpture, landscape, and California light creates ever-changing visual relationships. Seasonal variations—spring blooms, summer shade, fall color, winter clarity—transform familiar works. Early morning and late afternoon provide golden light that enhances bronze patinas and creates dramatic shadows. The educational dimension adds richness. As part of a major research university, Murphy Garden serves as outdoor classroom for art history, sculpture, landscape architecture, and related disciplines. Overhearing student discussions or encountering a class session adds intellectual energy to simple aesthetic appreciation. The garden's free admission and daily accessibility make it ideal for repeat visits. You can drop by for 15 minutes to see a favorite work or spend hours exploring the full collection. This flexibility encourages the kind of sustained engagement with art that museums struggle to provide—you can develop relationships with individual sculptures over time, seeing them in different lights and moods. For families introducing children to outdoor sculpture, Murphy Garden offers perfect conditions: free access removes financial barriers, the campus provides safe enclosed environment, and the variety of works (figurative, abstract, large, intimate) offers multiple entry points for young viewers. The casual atmosphere means children can move and explore without museum-imposed constraints. In a city known for inaccessible institutions and expensive cultural experiences, Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden stands as a model of democratic access to world-class art. Its existence proves that serious collections need not be gatekept—great art, freely shared, enriches everyone.

Southern California's premier outdoor sculpture collection featuring 70+ modern and contemporary masterpieces across 5 acres of the UCLA campus. FREE admission, open daily.

Notable Artworks

What Makes This Park Special

Art & Features

Art Styles: Modern, Contemporary, Abstract, Figurative

Planning Your Visit

Contact Information

🚇 Getting Here

🏛️ Facilities & Programs

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