Sarasota's Marie Selby Gardens Showcases Calder Artwork in Nature

The botanical gardens pair Alexander Calder's kinetic sculptures with lush plant displays for an immersive art experience.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida is hosting a special exhibition that combines the natural beauty of its 45-acre bayfront campus with the abstract, kinetic artwork of renowned sculptor Alexander Calder. The "Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement" exhibit features original Calder mobiles and sculptures displayed alongside custom horticultural displays inspired by the artist's fascination with the circus and movement.

Why it matters

The exhibit highlights the connections between Calder's art and the natural world, showcasing how his abstract forms and kinetic principles resonate with the living plants and landscapes of the botanical gardens. It also builds on Sarasota's cultural identity as the former winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which Calder drew inspiration from.

The details

The exhibit is part of the 10th anniversary of the Jean and Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The Calder artworks are displayed throughout the gardens' downtown Sarasota campus, with the horticulture team designing custom plant displays to complement and interact with the sculptures. The exhibit explores Calder's fascination with the circus and how it influenced his pioneering kinetic sculptures.

  • The "Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement" exhibit is on display through May 31, 2026.
  • The exhibit opened on February 15, 2026.

The players

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

A 45-acre botanical garden and living museum located in Sarasota, Florida, featuring ornamental flora and natural spaces along the Sarasota Bay.

Alexander Calder

An American sculptor known for his innovative kinetic sculptures and mobiles, which were inspired by the movement and suspension he observed in the circus.

Jennifer Rominiecki

The president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

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What they’re saying

“So, it's an immersive experience, and we're excited to feature the art of Alexander Calder. And the title of the show is The Nature of Movement.”

— Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (fox13news.com)

“We chose to focus on Alexander Calder because a lot of his abstract forms truly resonate with nature. Calder was quite fascinated with the circus, and arrived at the kinetic movement of his mobiles through study of the Ringling Circus.”

— Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (fox13news.com)

What’s next

The exhibit will be on display at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' downtown Sarasota campus through May 31, 2026.

The takeaway

This exhibit showcases how the natural world can inspire and complement abstract, kinetic art, blending the beauty of Calder's sculptures with the lush plant life of the botanical gardens. It also highlights Sarasota's unique cultural heritage as the former winter home of the Ringling Circus, which influenced Calder's artistic practice.