In the Leonhardt Galleries, 2026

Berkshire Botanical Garden’s 2026 art exhibitions will spotlight acclaimed regional and national artists united by a shared purpose: to foster community engagement by illuminating the interplay of art and the natural world. Some will captivate through sheer beauty and wonder, while others will prompt fundamental discussions on sustainability and the impact of human activities on the natural world. 

Here are the plans:

'Flora/Fauna/Form'

Guild of Berkshire Artists Juried Member Show

February 13-29

In this juried exhibition, artists explore the myriad ways flora and fauna take shape and inspire creativity. From delicate textures to bold palettes, from nature’s subtle elegance to its raw power, each piece reflects a unique perspective on the natural world. Is it the fragility of life or the complexity of ecosystems that captivates the artist? Through drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography, textiles, glass, and ceramics, these works celebrate both the beauty and the mystery of the living world. The result is a vibrant, diverse collection that invites viewers to see nature anew.

Opening Reception is Friday, Feb. 13, 4 to 6 p.m.

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) Exhibition

March 6-29

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) presents an exhibit of paintings and drawings by artists with disabilities. Each work was created through CATA’s year-round workshops serving teens, adults and elders. Some of the works were created at Berkshire Botanical Garden as part of an ongoing partnership between CATA and BBG, while others were created by CATA artists at day programs and residences serving people with disabilities, as well as in CATA’s studios in Great Barrington, Mass. In their vibrant paintings and drawings, CATA artists share their perspectives on nature and our beautiful Berkshires landscape. All works in the exhibit are available for sale, with proceeds supporting commissions for the individual artists. 

Opening reception is Friday, March 6, 3 to 5 p.m.

‘Groundbreaking — Art From the Roots Up’

April 3-19

Come see the Garden through the eyes of our talented students. This exhibition showcases artwork inspired by BBG art classes, celebrating the colors, forms and spirit of the natural world. From striking landscapes to playful, imaginative pieces, each work celebrates the joy of exploring nature through art. 

Opening reception is Friday, April 3, 5 to 7 p.m.

'Ephemeral Garden'

April 24 through May 31

This exhibition showcases Jenine Shereos’ ongoing dialogue with plants and the natural world. Visitors will encounter her dreamlike photographs of floral installations created in France, alongside textiles woven from yarn she hand-dyed using local plants and lichens. Also featured are her intricately crafted leaves stitched entirely with human hair. Shereos, who lives in the Berkshires, is Assistant Professor of Fibers at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston.

Opening reception is Friday, April 24, 5 to 7 p.m.

'Grand Gesture: Monumental Vessels in the Garden'

May 15 through October

Step into a world where clay becomes living form. This exhibition features the striking terracotta sculptures of Vermont-based ceramicist Stephen Procter, thoughtfully placed among the blooms of the Garden. Procter’s work transforms simple materials into expressions of grace and presence. His large vessels, at once monumental and intimate, invite both contemplation and emotional resonance. As physical objects, they command attention and shape the spaces they inhabit; as sculptural beings, they radiate a quiet, beneficent energy.

Opening reception is Friday, May 15, 5 to 7 p.m.

'Grounded in Nature: Paintings by Adam Van Doren'

June 5 through Aug. 23

Donna Hassler, Guest Curator

Experience the intersection of architecture, history and landscape in the evocative paintings of award-winning artist and author Adam Van Doren. Trained as an architect at Columbia University, Van Doren brings a profound understanding of form and design to his impressionistic oil and watercolor paintings, capturing the poetic beauty of historic buildings situated within their natural surroundings from New York to Rome. Van Doren's work celebrates the dialogue between the built environment and the landscape, translating his love of old buildings into detailed compositions of a particular place, illuminated by strokes of color. 

Opening reception is Friday, June 5, 5-7 p.m.