From quiet forest goddesses to surreal illusions that blend wood, stone, and trees—these 9 outdoor sculptures don’t just sit in nature, they become part of it. In this collection, you’ll discover sculptures in Illinois and Switzerland, on Belgian lawns and British gardens. Some hold trees gently in their palms, others appear to rest beneath layers of snow. All of them invite us to see the land as canvas, collaborator, and living presence.
More: 8 Inspiring Sculptures Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
1. Hallow — Daniel Popper’s Sculpture in Lisle, Illinois, USA
A monumental female figure made of wood-like textures stands with closed eyes and hands gently parting her chest. The sculptural body is open at the center, allowing viewers to walk through her, as though being embraced by nature itself. Springtime trees and blooming pink flowers surround her.
More: 5 Photos of Sculpture “Hallow” By Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
2. Mud Maid — Sculpture by Sue Hill in Cornwall, UK
This moss-covered figure of a woman rests on the forest floor at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Her face is sculpted from clay and softened by time, while her hair and body are formed from earth and living plants, changing with the seasons—from green to snow-covered.
More: Mud Maid – Living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill (5 photos and video)
3. Give — Lorenzo Quinn’s Sculpture Holding a Tree
Two white sculpted hands emerge from the grass, gently cupping a living tree. The hands appear soft despite their size, turning the act of holding into a symbol of care and responsibility.
4. Clothespin — Mehmet Ali Uysal’s Sculpture in Chaudfontaine, Belgium
A giant wooden clothespin appears to pinch and pull the ground itself. Cleverly designed and installed in a grassy field, the sculpture creates the illusion that the land is a soft fabric being gathered and held.
🔗 Follow Mehmet Ali Uysal on Instagram
5. Caring Hand — Eva Oertli & Beat Huber in Glarus, Switzerland
This large white hand sculpture gently cradles a tree in the middle of a lush green park. With careful shaping and scale, the sculpture blends seamlessly into its surroundings, turning a simple tree into the heart of a nurturing gesture.
More: The Caring Hand – Sculpture in Glarus, Switzerland by Eva Oertli and Beat Huber
6. I’m Home!
This painted face, embedded directly onto the exposed heart of a tree, transforms bark into canvas. The artwork is visible only within a natural wound in the trunk, where the human face seems both protected and revealed by the tree itself.
7. UMI — Daniel Popper’s Sculpture in Chicago, Illinois, USA
A towering woman, constructed with intertwined “roots” and gentle hands, emerges from the ground. Her chest and hair are woven with wooden tendrils, making her appear as if she’s grown from the soil beneath her.
More: “UMI” Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
8. Flower Tube
A sculpture of a paint tube lies on the grass, appearing to squeeze out a trail of vivid orange marigolds.
9. Musco — Minwear Woods, Wales
In the heart of Minwear Woods, leaves, moss, and soil become canvases for land artist Jon Foreman. More!: 10 Forest Sculptures By Jon Foreman
🔗 Follow Jon Foreman on Instagram
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
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I LOVE THE MUD MAID SECURE BECAUSE I ENJOY WORKING OUTSIDE BETTER THAN I SIDE OF MY HOME I GET THE FRESH AIR ALSO WATCHING THINGS GROWING OUT IN THE FREE WORLD MAKE ME HAPPY AND FREE I CAN CALL MYSELF THE MUD MAID IN THE GROUND WITH A SMILE
[…] Mother Nature’s Son (8 Sculptures Where Art Grows From the Earth) […]
AWESOME! LOVE THEM ALL!