The Board of Trustees of Calder Gardens has announced that the highly anticipated cultural destination along Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway is set to open in September 2025. In a move that signals a bold vision for its programming, the institution has appointed Juana Berrío as the Marsha Perelman Senior Director of Programs. Berrío, a distinguished curator, educator, and arts programmer, will join Calder Gardens on January 21, 2025, to spearhead its public engagement initiatives.
© Herzog & de Meuron.
The concept for Calder Gardens, crafted by the Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron and complemented by lush landscapes envisioned by Dutch master Piet Oudolf, is as ambitious as it is reflective. This unique project aims to harmonize the iconic art of Alexander Calder with nature and architecture, creating what Alexander S. C. Rower, grandson of Calder and President of the Calder Foundation, describes as “an entirely new type of cultural institution focused on nurturing introspection and personal growth.”
Berrío will curate an inclusive slate of programs, from performances and events to wellness activities, designed to resonate with Calder’s work and foster a deep sense of community. Her impressive résumé includes curatorial and programming roles across some of the world’s leading cultural institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, where she currently advises on curatorial and sustainability matters for its Independent Study Program.
Her experience spans the globe, with previous roles at Amant in Brooklyn, the Walker Art Center, SFMOMA, the New Museum, and the Venice Biennale. Notably, Berrío co-founded Kiria Koula, a gallery and bookstore in San Francisco that doubled as a vibrant programming space. She has also taught at academic institutions in the U.S. and her native Colombia and holds advanced degrees in fine arts and curatorial studies from Bard College, the University of Minnesota, and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma.
Alexander S. C. Rower expressed confidence in Berrío’s ability to shape the future of Calder Gardens: “Juana Berrío’s expertise and wide-ranging interdisciplinary experience—shaped by openness, compassion, and curiosity—make her ideal for this essential role at Calder Gardens. We look forward to being inspired by her dynamic, unexpected programming.”
Thom Collins, Neubauer Family Executive Director and President of the Barnes Foundation, which will support Calder Gardens administratively and operationally, echoed this sentiment. “Juana Berrío brings significant cultural programming knowledge to Calder Gardens,” he said. “Her expertise and ability to thoughtfully and meaningfully engage the community will be instrumental as we create a place where art and nature merge in a novel and exciting way.”
All works by Alexander Calder © 2025 Calder Foundation, New York.
Photo by Emma Trim, Courtesy of Calder Gardens, Philadelphia.
For her part, Berrío shared her excitement about the opportunity: “I am thrilled to join Calder Gardens, a unique space that integrates art, architecture, and nature to invite self-reflection. I look forward to working with the team to design rich cross-pollinations between artistic and nonartistic practices, with diverse communities, and between humans, flora, and fauna. Calder’s own passion for interdisciplinary collaborations and experimentation at large provides a perfect context for Calder Gardens to become one of the most innovative and forward-thinking spaces for art and culture today.”
With its ambitious vision and inspired leadership, Calder Gardens is poised to redefine the intersection of art, nature, and human connection.
About Calder Gardens
Calder Gardens unites the art of Alexander Calder with nature and architecture to create an oasis that invites introspection and nurtures human connection. Featuring a building designed by the Pritzker Prize–winning firm Herzog & de Meuron and gardens by internationally acclaimed landscape designer Piet Oudolf, Calder Gardens will present a rotating selection of masterworks from the Calder Foundation, New York.
Philadelphia philanthropists working in collaboration with the Calder Foundation founded a 501(c)3 non-profit supporting organization to launch Calder Gardens, with significant support from the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Through an innovative collaboration, the Barnes Foundation will provide administrative, operational, and educational programming support to Calder Gardens in what constitutes a new model for institutional sustainability and efficiency
©2025 Calder Gardens
Art Plugged is a contemporary platform inspired by a relationship with the broader arts communities. We provide our audience with curated insight into the world of art, from exhibitions to artist interviews and more.
