Socrates Sculpture Park

Socrates Sculpture Park is the principal outdoor site for contemporary sculpture in New York City. Set on a small cove off the East River, the 4.5-acre park consists of a large open space encircled by rock gardens, specially built walls, walkways and areas of wild grasses and boulders lining the waterfront. The sculpture has the dramatic Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. New exhibitions are produced twice annually, in the late spring and in the fall. Socrates is the only New York City park that regularly exhibits sculpture by some of the world's most renowned artists, alongside projects by some of the nation's most promising emerging artists. Most of the work at the park is created on site and designed specifically to interact with its surroundings. Often visitors have the unique opportunity to experience art being made and meet artists working on site. Children are encouraged to touch, climb and interact with the sculpture, an experience that is unusual and unique to Socrates. Socrates opened in 1986, founded by the artists Mark di Suvero and Enrico Martignoni, working with local community residents. Sculptors exhibiting at the park have included Vito Acconci, Beverly Pepper, Keith Haring, Eduardo Chillida and many others.