All Of It: Van Gogh's Flowers Brought to Life at the New York Botanical Garden

Episode Release Date: May 22, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Joanna Gork, Vice President for Exhibitions and Programming at the New York Botanical Garden

Introduction to the Exhibition

In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into the vibrant intersection of art and horticulture through the lens of the New York Botanical Garden's latest exhibition, Van Gogh's Flowers. Scheduled to open on a sunny Saturday, the exhibition promises an immersive experience that brings Vincent van Gogh's iconic floral paintings to life amidst a sprawling 250-acre landscape.

Reimagining Van Gogh's Botanical Inspirations

Alison Stewart introduces Joanna Gork, the mastermind behind the exhibition, to discuss the ambitious project of translating Van Gogh's stunning flower paintings into a living botanical display.

"Van Gogh is an artist who is one of our most beloved artists, and his deep connection to nature and his love of flowers and color is particularly exhibited in the work that he produced while he was living in the south of France."
— Joanna Gork [01:33]

Joanna explains the meticulous research involved in identifying the specific flowers depicted in Van Gogh's paintings. This process required a blend of artistic interpretation and scientific horticulture, as her team analyzed the morphological features of the plants and cross-referenced them with Van Gogh's personal letters for accuracy.

"We have to do a little bit of forensic work... and we're making, in some cases, educated guesses. And in others, we're looking to source material, including the artist's own letters about the plants that he was observing and painting."
— Joanna Gork [02:15]

Designing an Immersive Van Gogh Experience

The design of the exhibition prioritized both aesthetic beauty and authenticity to Van Gogh's artistic vision. Joanna emphasizes the importance of creating an enveloping environment that allows visitors to step into the vibrant colors and dynamic compositions characteristic of Van Gogh's work.

"We wanted to make sure that the experience that we created was beautiful and that it featured some of the plants that we observe in his most beloved and most famous works... to feel unique and that feel enveloping in a way that can only be accomplished here at the garden."
— Joanna Gork [03:07]

Collaborations with Contemporary Artists

A standout feature of the exhibition is the collaboration with contemporary artists who echo Van Gogh's passion for color and scale. Joanna highlights partnerships with Graphic Rewilding and Amy Jacobson, whose large-scale floral installations and sculptural representations add a modern twist to the historic narrative.

"Graphic Rewilding... are using heavy contour, much like Van Gogh himself did... they are really wonderful collaborators in thinking about how to bring to life Irises... and also to... bring to life... when you first arrive at the garden."
— Joanna Gork [06:04]

Amy Jacobson's oversized, three-dimensional steel sculptures of Van Gogh's floral still lifes create a living gallery experience, complemented by vibrant plantings that mimic the color contrasts found in Van Gogh's paintings.

"She's created three-dimensional renderings of the florals themselves that are oversized. They're much larger in scale so that you feel that you're stepping into a living gallery."
— Joanna Gork [07:09]

Highlighting the Sunflowers

A central attraction of the exhibition is an expansive lawn dedicated to sunflowers, featuring 32 varieties that showcase the diversity within this iconic flower family. Joanna discusses the horticultural challenges and successes in cultivating these sunflowers to bloom throughout the summer season.

"We will have thousands of sunflowers over the course of this exhibition... we are actually going to be able to have fields of sunflowers all summer long, which is really wonderful."
— Joanna Gork [08:24]

Visitors will encounter sunflowers in various forms—tall, single-stemmed varieties soaring up to 6 feet, and more compact, multi-stemmed shrubs—each contributing to a dynamic and colorful landscape.

Complementary LEGO Exhibition

In addition to Van Gogh's Flowers, the Botanical Garden is hosting a special LEGO exhibition during the opening weekend. Hosted by LEGO, the event allows visitors to engage creatively by building their own sunflowers to take home, blending playful creativity with botanical appreciation.

"They'll be here Saturday through Monday, and visitors can come to the garden and get a chance to see some of the different LEGO botanicals that they have created. Each visitor will be able to make a sunflower and take that home with them."
— Joanna Gork [10:33]

Starry Nights: Bringing Van Gogh's Masterpiece to Life

One of the most anticipated features of the exhibition is Starry Nights, a series of nighttime events that transform Van Gogh's famous painting into a multi-sensory spectacle. These events include live music, dance performances, and an innovative drone show that illuminates the sky with representations of Van Gogh's swirling clouds and vibrant stars.

"When the conditions permit, will also include hundreds of drones that will take to the sky and bring to life the Starry Night painting overhead."
— Joanna Gork [11:58]

This harmonious blend of art, music, and technology aims to provide visitors with a deeply immersive experience that honors Van Gogh's legacy while showcasing contemporary creative expressions.

Van Gogh's Personal Connection to Nature

Joanna reflects on Van Gogh's profound relationship with nature and its therapeutic influence on his life and work. Despite his struggles with mental illness, Van Gogh found solace and inspiration in the natural world, a theme that the exhibition seeks to convey to its visitors.

"Van Gogh took a great deal of solace from the time that he spent in nature... nature is a balm for us all and an opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and color is endlessly energizing."
— Joanna Gork [14:08]

Visiting the New York Botanical Garden

The episode concludes with practical information for prospective visitors. The New York Botanical Garden welcomes guests from Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours on select nights for the Starry Nights events. Accessible via Metro-North, subway, and ample parking, the garden offers multiple pathways for everyone to explore and enjoy the exhibition.

"We are open Tuesday through Sunday 10 to 6. We're open select nights. You can take Metro north directly to the New York Botanical Garden. You can take the subway. We have ample parking."
— Joanna Gork [15:02]

Final Thoughts

Joanna Gork expresses her passion for the Botanical Garden and the exquisite experience awaiting visitors at Van Gogh's Flowers. Her enthusiasm underscores the exhibition's goal to celebrate Van Gogh's artistic legacy and the enduring beauty of nature.

"It's my favorite place."
— Joanna Gork [15:21]

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It offers an insightful exploration into how art and nature intertwine to create a living tribute to Vincent van Gogh. Through dedicated research, artistic collaboration, and innovative design, the New York Botanical Garden's Van Gogh's Flowers exhibition promises to be a captivating destination for art lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.