Nine women artists have contributed bright and playful sculptures to the Artists' Garden on top of Temple underground.
In a parallel universe, it is the northern bridgehead for Thomas Heatherwick's Garden Bridge. In our universe the rooftop of Temple station is instead an Artists' Garden, which is gaining a reputation for joyful, engaging art.
The latest free exhibition, called Mary Mary, isn't on the face of it contrary, but it does make us want to explore how the garden grows.
As the blurb tells us:
The garden is peopled by abstractions of ‘Mary’ (derived from the Hebrew mry meaning rebellious) from the dynamic cog to the kinetic kick to the surreal baluster-woman-shrine. Sculpture answers back and turns itself into sound, sculpture laughs at its deft capacity to fit inside its own packing crate. Sculpture is ready to move forward.
It's an artists' garden, so don't expect them to call a spade a spade. All you really need to know is that this is an exhibition of great joy and playfulness, which will delight adults and children alike.
We've included photos of a few of the sculptures here, but not all, because you should be left with some surprises.
Mary Mary, arranged by theCOLAB and The Artist’s Garden, is on top of Temple station until 3 September 2025. Entrance is free. The exhibiting artists are Rong Bao, Candida Powell–Williams, Alice Wilson, Lucy Gregory, LR Vandy, Olivia Bax, Frances Richardson, Holly Stevenson and Virginia Overton.
