Painted Garden

Artist: Jac T. Bowen (1966)
Jac T. Bowen was an illustrator, sculptor, and painter, who studied with renowned Missouri artist, Thomas Hart Benton, at the Kansas City Art Institute in the 1940s. Bowen also created numerous fiberglass sculptures throughout the Kansas City metro region. The Landing Shopping Center on Troost Avenue had 30 animal sculptures created by Bowen. In 1971, Bowen was commissioned to replace the famous Plaza Bunnies, that were originally made with plaster of Paris in the early 1930s. From 1962 to 1988, a covered wagon, farmer, and oxen were on display at Prairie Village’s Corinth Square, also made by Bowen. In her 2010 book, Jac T Bowen, A Kansas City Artist, author Marybeth Lake wrote that when Bowen “was creating, he felt he was transported into a world of sheer bliss and inspiration. He felt it was the job of the artist to show people how to have beauty in every aspect of their lives.”

Location: Powell Gardens Front Entrance
Materials: Brass

Sheaves of Wheat is a 4,000 pound, 17-foot-high sculpture made by artist Jac T. Bowen specifically for the Board of Trade Building, which was located on the Country Club Plaza and closed July 2013. Belger Cartage Service of Kansas City installed Sheaves of Wheat on March 25, 1966 at the Kansas City Board of Trade building. At the time it was considered the “world’s largest hand-wrought brass relief,” due to the half-mile of brass tubing used during its construction. When the Board of Trade closed in Kansas City, the artwork was donated to Powell Gardens facilitated by Wendy Powell & Marty Bicknell. The sculpture was installed in the fall of 2020 with the completion of the new Front Entrance monument and garden.

Artist: Tyler Kimball
Tyler Kimball is a glass artist that owns and operates Monarch Glass Studio, located in Kansas City, Missouri. He creates a wide array of glass work that ranges from blown glass sculptures for public places to stained glass facades for commercial and private residences to home decor and gift glass. His 20 years of glass experience lends process and technique know-how to whatever project he takes on next. His aims are always to use the natural translucency and optic qualities, as well as the unique colors found in glass, to work with natural and artificial light. Though Kimball’s work has been shown in galleries and museums internationally and is included in many private and public collections, his favorite type of work is that which melds with its environment and is present for the community around it to enjoy.

Location: Visitor Center Terrace (south)
Materials: Painted steel, blown glass

Created from over 800 pieces of blown glass made specifically to fit into the painted steel trellis, this homage to the moon is made to sparkle in the sunlight but reminds us of the power of our moon. The seven-foot-tall arched gateway features the phases of the moon at the crest and moon-flowers adorned to the sides.

Courtesy of LEOPOLDgallery

Artist: Lyman Whitaker
Lyman Whitaker has been sculpting since the 1970s and over time has become the most renowned kinetic artist of his generation. Collectors include Disney World, Apple TV, the Dallas Arboretum, the Morris Arboretum of Philadelphia, the City of Boston, and private collectors worldwide. Lyman’s Wind Sculptures reflect an organic theme. His intent is to encourage civilization to create a more harmonious relationship with the earth. Each sculpture is made of durable copper and stainless steel, is designed to last for generations, and has been tested to withstand 90 MPH winds. His works are as soothing as they are unique, easy to install, and designed to be left out year-round, requiring almost no maintenance. Leopold Gallery has been carrying his work since 2008 and has been responsible for his exhibits at various botanical gardens and museums. All of Lyman’s sculptures are created by hand in a highly innovative studio. Not only are his Wind Sculptures aesthetically profound but they also have a high degree of mechanical integrity, each carefully engineered to be passed down from generation to generation.

Location: Visitor Center Terrace (south)
Materials: Stainless steel, durable copper 

Lyman’s Wind Sculptures reflect an organic theme. His intent is to encourage civilization to create a more harmonious relationship with the earth. Each sculpture is made of durable copper and stainless steel, is designed to last for generations, and has been tested to withstand 90 MPH winds. His works are as soothing as they are unique, easy to install, and designed to be left out year-round, requiring almost no maintenance.

Artist: Rick and Janice Moore
Rick and Janice Moore have been creating works of art for over 15 years. The couple works as a team on all their pieces with Rick constructing from metal and Janice from fused glass. They are inspired by nature in their colorful and abstract pieces.

Location: Dennis and Annette Young Magnolia Walk
Materials: Welded metal, fused glass  

Fused glass leaves set in metal structures.

Artist: Dan Ostermiller (1990)
Drawing from his many travels abroad, Dan Ostermiller creates animal figures in context with their natural surroundings. In the tradition of the French 19th century animaliers, Ostermiller’s work is true to the subject. Yet, his work has a realism that is not just an accurate rendering of the subject, but a sophisticated combination of line and composition.

Location: Dennis and Annette Young Magnolia Walk
Materials: Bronze

Powell Gardens is fortunate to have three sculptures by artist Dan Ostermiller. Close Quarters is the first of three bronze sculptures you will encounter. Marjorie Powell Allen graciously donated this sculpture because “they made [her] smile.” Ostermiller is usually given the label “animal sculptor,” however, within that field can be found a wide range of subjects and interpretations. From the barnyard to the vast American Great Plains, from the back porch to the Zambezi Valley, Ostermiller’s animals are studies in elegance and power. They are also depictions of their very essence – the lumbering strength of the grizzly, the feline grace of the cat or the charming vulnerability of the lop-eared rabbit. 

Artist: Tyler Kimball (2022)
Tyler Kimball is a glass artist that owns and operates Monarch Glass Studio, located in Kansas City, Missouri. He creates a wide array of glass work that ranges from blown glass sculptures for public places to stained glass facades for commercial and private residences to home decor and gift glass. His 20 years of glass experience lends process and technique know-how to whatever project he takes on next. His aims are always to use the natural translucency and optic qualities, as well as the unique colors found in glass, to work with natural and artificial light. Though Kimball’s work has been shown in galleries and museums internationally and is included in many private and public collections, his favorite type of work is that which melds with its environment and is present for the community around it to enjoy.

Location: Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden
Materials: Glass

Blown glass lotus flowers floating in the water garden.

Artist: Dan Ostermiller (1990)
Drawing from his many travels abroad, Dan Ostermiller creates animal figures in context with their natural surroundings. In the tradition of the French 19th century animaliers, Ostermiller’s work is true to the subject. Yet, his work has a realism that is not just an accurate rendering of the subject, but a sophisticated combination of line and composition.

Location: Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden
Materials: Bronze

Blue Sentinel, exhibited at the award-winning Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden, is more than five feet tall and was inspired by a Blue Heron rookery near Ostermiller’s Colorado studio. 

Artist: Nicole Staab
Nicole began creating mosaics in 2016 as a creative outlet. She enjoys working with stained glass and mixed media to create vibrant colors with added patterns and textures within her work. She appreciates how stained glass can be inconsistent. At times it is delicate and tough, easy-going and temperamental all within the same piece of glass. This allows Nicole to give a piece a different look in different settings. The lighting, reflection and substrate are all taken into consideration when constructing a piece of work. Her work has hung in galleries, exhibits and festivals all over the Midwest region.

Location: Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden
Materials: Stained glass

Tranquil Reflections is a stained-glass mosaic art piece that captures the serene and peaceful scene of swimming koi in a pond when viewed from above. The artwork is meticulously crafted using vibrant colored glass pieces to create a mosaic that depicts the shimmering water surface and the graceful movement of the koi fish below. The artwork invites viewers to immerse themselves in the serene atmosphere of a tranquil koi pond, offering a moment of contemplation and relaxation. 

Artist: Mike Byrne, Sculptor
Mike Byrne has been a Kansas City area artist for over 35 years. He works mostly as a sculptor utilizing a variety of materials, often including steel and cement. His work is heavily influenced by the styles of Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller, Arman and Art Deco architecture. Byrne enjoys using found objects to create whimsical art pieces. His focus is on elevating mass-produced objects to celebrate industrial designers who have created artist pieces that are often overlooked. Mike presents objects in unexpected ways but tries not to disguise their original purpose. Mike is an active member of Summit Art as an artist and volunteer.

Location: Dennis & Annette Young Magnolia Walk
Materials: Steel, wood, fused glass

Mixed media piece depicting the fantasy flight of butterflies.

Artist: Mike Byrne, Sculptor
Mike Byrne has been a Kansas City area artist for over 35 years. He works mostly as a sculptor utilizing a variety of materials, often including steel and cement. His work is heavily influenced by the styles of Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller, Arman and Art Deco architecture. Byrne enjoys using found objects to create whimsical art pieces. His focus is on elevating mass-produced objects to celebrate industrial designers who have created artist pieces that are often overlooked. Mike presents objects in unexpected ways but tries not to disguise their original purpose. Mike is an active member of Summit Art as an artist and volunteer.

Location: Dennis & Annette Young Magnolia Walk
Materials: Steel, glass, wood

Fun abstract piece designed to allow the sun to reflect through the glass, mimicking a swirl of colors and shapes for the viewer.

Builder: Troy Young, Powell Gardens Staff (2023)
Troy Young is one of the longest tenured staff at Powell Garden with over 20 years of service. He enjoys keeping the gardens operating and beautiful for visitors to enjoy.

Designers: Elise Kratz and Eric Perette, Powell Gardens Staff (2024)
Elise Kratz began her journey with Powell Gardens in 2023. As the Retail Specialist, Elise contributes her expertise to curate and display locally made and garden-inspired gifts in The Marketplace at Powell Gardens. Eric Perette graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a degree in Horticulture in 2008. He spent 12 years working in greenhouse production at Powell Gardens before trying something new, creating a permanent butterfly garden at Powell, and helping cultivate a new Children’s Garden in 2019. That same year he took over the cacti and succulent collection and created a permanent display of that collection in our Garden Galleries greenhouse for the public to enjoy. In 2022, he became the lead of the Heartland Harvest Garden. In 2023, Eric also took over Powell Gardens’ Visitor Center beds and Conservatory.

Location: Rose Peninsula (near Conifer Garden)
Materials: Recycled door, wood, paint, plants

Surround yourself in an artistic paradise! Our selfie spot channels the tranquil spirit of Bob Ross, inviting you to immerse yourself in springtime and creative inspiration. Encompassed by a palette of lush greens and vibrant blossoms, you’ll capture the essence of artistic bliss in this serene setting. Whether you’re an art aficionado or just drawn to the beauty of nature, this whimsical corner promises to awaken your inner artist and infuse your day with vibrant hues of joy and creativity!

Artist: Tyler Kimball (2022)
Tyler Kimball is a glass artist that owns and operates Monarch Glass Studio, located in Kansas City, Missouri. He creates a wide array of glass work that ranges from blown glass sculptures for public places to stained glass facades for commercial and private residences to home decor and gift glass. His 20 years of glass experience lends process and technique know-how to whatever project he takes on next. His aims are always to use the natural translucency and optic qualities, as well as the unique colors found in glass, to work with natural and artificial light. Though Kimball’s work has been shown in galleries and museums internationally and is included in many private and public collections, his favorite type of work is that which melds with its environment and is present for the community around it to enjoy.

Location: Fountain Garden
Materials: Painted steel, furnace-formed glass

These flowers made from painted steel and furnace-formed glass are meant to remind viewers of the talking flowers from the Lewis Carroll classic, “Alice in Wonderland”. The artist hopes viewers will lean in and listen to what these oversized glass flowers might have to say.

Artist: Amie J. Jacobsen, cast glass by Dierk Van Keppel
Amie J. Jacobsen is a sculptor, metalworker and public artist living and working in the Kansas City area. A lifelong creator, she has produced work in painting, illustration, and graphic design before transitioning to 3D design and metal-working in 2015. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Western State Colorado, as well as an MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where she also taught illustration from 2006-2015. In 2015, Amie took the opportunity to learn metalworking in metal fabrication shop in the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City, MO. After 2 years she was awarded her first large scale sculpture commission and moved into her own studio and workshop. Today, Amie is the owner and manager of Farris Wheel Studios, a collaborative design+build studio and fabrication shop in Independence, MO. She has completed 14 public art commissions throughout the US, and numerous private commissions. She describes her work as “whimsically elegant” and states, “While I resist being confined to a single theme or subject matter, my work most often draws inspiration from native flora and fauna, landscapes and ecosystems of an area, leveraging the beauty of nature to symbolize and celebrate the human spirit.”

Location: Millstone
Materials: Steel, cast glass

Taking inspiration from the natural world, this piece pays homage to the whimsical yet elegant side of nature. Constructed from steel and cast glass Flower Moon captivates the eye.

Artist: Amie J. Jacobsen, cast glass by Dierk Van Keppel
Amie J. Jacobsen is a sculptor, metalworker and public artist living and working in the Kansas City area. A lifelong creator, she has produced work in painting, illustration, and graphic design before transitioning to 3D design and metal-working in 2015. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Western State Colorado, as well as an MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where she also taught illustration from 2006-2015. In 2015, Amie took the opportunity to learn metalworking in metal fabrication shop in the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City, MO. After 2 years she was awarded her first large scale sculpture commission and moved into her own studio and workshop. Today, Amie is the owner and manager of Farris Wheel Studios, a collaborative design+build studio and fabrication shop in Independence, MO. She has completed 14 public art commissions throughout the US, and numerous private commissions. She describes her work as “whimsically elegant” and states, “While I resist being confined to a single theme or subject matter, my work most often draws inspiration from native flora and fauna, landscapes and ecosystems of an area, leveraging the beauty of nature to symbolize and celebrate the human spirit.”

Location: Garden Galleries
Materials: Steel, cast glass

Crafted from steal and cast glass, Flowers and Honey celebrates the beauty of the natural world. Depicting important pollinators, the honeybee, tending to their honeycomb, viewers are greeted with beautiful colors and textures reminiscent of the growing seasons.

Artist: Eric Tschanz (2009)
Eric Tschanz was the Executive Director at Powell Gardens from 1989 to 2016 and is the Celebration Apple artist. He was inspired by a large wooden apple with picnic table-like seats he saw while visiting England. 

Location: Heartland Harvest Garden
Materials: Steel

Tschanz believed Powell Gardens needed a focal piece for the Apple Court but the wooden sculpture he envisioned had an estimated cost of $50,000 to manufacture and ship to the United States. Knowing that our maintenance crew had extraordinary fabrication talents, Tschanz worked with them designing a piece that they could build. The steel ribs were sent out to be bent into the outer apple-like shape, then all welded together. The stem is fiberglass and anchored into the ground. Tschanz painted the sculpture to keep the look and feel as real as possible. Notice that it is botanically correct with five seed carpels, which Tschanz felt was a great teaching moment for children. This steel sculpture was installed in 2009 once the Heartland Harvest Garden was completed.

Artist: Robert Anderson (2017)
Metal sculptor, Robert C. Anderson of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, specializes in garden kaleidoscopes, inflated steel pieces, and metal sculptures. 

Location: Visitor Center Terraces
Materials: Powder coated steel

The garden kaleidoscope design featured here is an original concept that Anderson developed after being introduced to kaleidoscopes by his wife. He started creating these inspired sculptures in 1997. Anderson’s popular garden kaleidoscopes have a metal frame with a bowl of flowering plants as the focus object for the kaleidoscope. Spin the bowl to change what you see when looking through the eyepiece! Powell Gardens’ Garden Kaleidoscope Sharing is powder coated steel and was installed in 2017 on our Garden Terrace. It was generously donated by Dennis and Annette Young.