Florigami in the Garden: Mckee Garden's Latest Exhibit
- 19 hours ago
- 2 min read
Mckee Garden's newest exhibit, Florigami in the Garden, is a large-scale outdoor sculpture exhibition that blends art, nature, and the ancient Japanese tradition of origami (paper folding). Instead of paper, the artworks are reimagined as monumental metal sculptures placed throughout the garden’s lush tropical landscape. These pieces are designed to evoke the delicacy and geometry of folded paper while celebrating the vitality of the natural world.
The sculptures were designed by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, who are known for transforming the principles of origami into durable, expressive outdoor art. For this exhibition, they collaborated with several modern master folders, including Robert J. Lang, Michael G. LaFosse, and Beth Johnson, to ensure that the pieces reflect both technical precision and artistic imagination.
Rather than paper cranes or traditional forms, this installation brings to life nature-inspired subjects including:
Butterflies in mid-flight
Birds soaring above paths
Grazing deer
Blooming flowers
These all echo themes of pollination, growth, and transformation, making the exhibit both visually captivating and conceptually rich. Many of the sculptures are kinetic, so they move gently with the breeze, adding a dynamic layer that encourages visitors to linger and explore.
Why It’s So Special
McKee is the first garden in Florida and only the third in the U.S. to present this traveling exhibition, offering Treasure Coast residents and visitors a rare opportunity to see and experience this beautiful exhibit close to home!
The scale and whimsy of the art create a playful interplay with the garden’s natural beauty, turning a stroll through the grounds into an immersive sensory experience.
Beyond the sculptures themselves, there are often related events — such as workshops, performances, and guided tours — that add context and deepen engagement (e.g., origami demonstrations, storytelling and cultural connections to folding).
Dates: Jan. 17 – May 24, 2026
350 US Highway 1,
Vero Beach, FL 32963