Okoyomon deliberately plants species usually held apart, native beside invasive, cultivated beside wild, and lets them fight it out over years rather than staging a tidy garden, which looks best in autumn when the whole thing goes gold and ragged. Climb inside the oversized teddy bear at the centre and her recorded poetry plays around you. If you want the least museum-like museum experience in the city, this is it.
What to expect
An open courtyard behind the old PS1 schoolhouse, planted dense enough that paths feel cut through rather than laid out. You can walk in, climb into the central bear sculpture, and sit while a sound piece of whimsical instrumentation and the artist's recorded poetry plays. It changes visibly by season, so an autumn visit looks nothing like a spring one.
Good to know
- Nearest trains: E, M or 7 to Court Sq, a two-minute walk from the entrance
- No reservation is needed; walk straight through to the courtyard
- It is outdoors and uncovered; dress for wind coming off the East River
- Wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy after rain
- Kids love the climbable bear; strollers manage the courtyard fine
- Pair it with the indoor galleries and the Artbook shop in the same building
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Common questions
Can you go inside the sculpture?
Yes. The oversized teddy bear at the center of the garden is designed to be entered and climbed through, with poetry playing inside.
How long will it be there?
It is a multi-year commission planted in 2026 and scheduled to run through 2028, changing as the plants grow.
Does it cost anything?
No. MoMA PS1 offers free admission for all visitors.
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