THE ARTIST PLANT CONSERVATORY
Explore the Living Archive of Plants from Celebrated Artists
THE ARTIST PLANT CONSERVATORY
The Artist Plant Conservatory is a living archive of plants known to have existed within the presence of or have been depicted by a celebrated artist. The air taken in by the viewer is oxygenated by the same plants who provided air for their artists - the viewer is literally one breath away from the artist.
Since 2016, Matt Austin and Anke Riesenkamp have been collecting and cultivating these plants from artists’ studios and gardens. They nurture them in their nurseries in New York and in 'De Proeftuin' near Amsterdam. Their work is done in close collaboration with foundations, museums, and the artists themselves.
Georgia O'Keeffe watering the Jade Plant in her Studio, New Mexico
Cherry Plum tree from the childhood garden from Vincent van Gogh
MEET THE PLANTS
The ever-growing collection includes, among others: the cherry plum with delicate pink blossoms from the garden of Vincent van Gogh’s childhood home; the yew tree that Piet Mondrian painted time and again in his quest for abstraction; the jade plant from Georgia O’Keeffe’s New Mexico studio; and the fig tree Salvador Dalí planted in Púbol for his beloved.
MISSION
At The Artist Plant Conservatory, our mission is to preserve the botanical heritage connected to artistic legacies. By cultivating and showcasing plants that have inspired renowned artists, we elevate them as storytellers imparting their wisdom.
In our conservatory, plants are the focal point, symbolizing the deep bond between nature and human creativity. Through immersive environments and upcoming public exhibitions, we aim to deepen appreciation for the symbiotic relationship between art and nature
