​This section covers the exhibitions, galleries, museums and online sites ​
where you can see botanical artwork and botanical art collections for yourself. 

Museums, Art Collections, Art Galleries and Exhibitions
- around the world

This page covers the 'signposts' to the pages where you can find out more about

• Calls for Entries to major OPEN exhibitions of botanical art and illustration
• Online Exhibitions of botanical art and illustration
  
• Major juried exhibitions of botanical art and illustrations
• Major exhibitions on every continent
• Major museums/galleries and permanent collections of botanical art
• The Worldwide Exhibition of Botanical Art in 2018

PLUS a reminder to artists of the standards required of art destined for major collections.
​
At the bottom of the page is a form which allows you to tell me about any exhibition of botanical art which you think deserves to be on this website

EXHIBITIONS  INDICATED ON THE PAGES BELOW MAY BE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
Please contact the organiser for the latest situation. Exhibitions may be rescheduled for a later date and/or postponed for a year.

​Please note this section is beginning to be maintained again after a long period of great uncertainty

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CALLS FOR ENTRIES for OPEN Botanical Art Exhibitions
​

All OPEN Exhibitions of Botanical Art are in future to be listed on a ​NEW PAGE:
​Call for Entries - OPEN Exhibitions of Botanical Art & Illustration

More and more of the major exhibitions are becoming open to entries from botanical artists and illustrators from around the world.
Accordingly I've changed my approach to listing them

• FROM one which focused on the countries and organisations generating calls for entries - and left me struggling to keep up!
• TO one where ALL calls for entries will be listed in order of their deadline dates for entries - creating one place where people can see the overall timeline for different opportunities offered by different organisations. 

​Some of those exhibitions will still have more details / information on a separate page as well (e.g. RHS / Hunt / Margaret Flockton ) 

What is an OPEN Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration?

An OPEN Exhibition of botanical art and/or illustration is one which is open to anybody who qualifies for entry. 
​i.e. it is NOT limited to only members of an art society

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Online Exhibitions
​

NEW PAGE: Online Exhibitions of Botanical Art and Illustration

The most accessible - and sustainable - form of exhibition is the Online Exhibition. It doesn't allow for the appreciation which comes from seeing an artwork in person - but it does enable much more botanical art and illustration to be shared with many more people around the world.

​This page records:

• current and upcoming online exhibitions
  
• past exhibitions - which started around the world as we all went into lockdown. 

What is an Online Exhibition? 

An online exhibition is one which goes beyond listing images on artwork on websites. Features include:

• Treated as a proper exhibition
• On a dedicated page or website
• Accessible by all
• Most allow people to buy online (or allow contact with the artist)

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Major Exhibitions of Botanical Art
​

There are three premier international exhibitions
​recognised by leading
botanical artists,  illustrators and photographers
from all over the world

Botanical Art Exhibitions are held all over the world
in different countries, ​at botanic gardens
​and by botanical art groups

RHS Botanical Art & Photography Exhibitions
​

Details of the Regulations and Guidance on how to enter the Exhibitions organised by the Royal Horticultural Society can be found on 

• the RHS Botanical Art Exhibitions Page 
• the RHS Botanical Photography Exhibitions Page
• the  Page.

To be able to enter these open exhibitions you must first apply to exhibit. In the exhibition, the artist or photographer is required to display a portfolio of work on a theme.

Tips about these exhibitions can be found on the Tips and Techniques page.

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Hunt International Exhibitions of Botanical Art and Illustration

This site includes a page dedicated to the past International Exhibitions of Botanical Art and Illustration run every three years by the Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation.

It lists all participating artists between 2001-2016 by country.

Artists now only exhibit one artwork, once in their lifetime at the Hunt International Exhibition

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Margaret Flockton Award

This is an annual international award  for excellence in scientific botanical illustration. The annual exhibition in Sydney includes scientific botanical illustrations from around the world.

Find out more about the top juried exhibition of contemporary scientific botanical illustration in monochrome on my NEW page for the Margaret Flockton Award

Botanical Art Exhibitions
by Continent & Country
by
Botanical Art Societies, Groups and Artists
​

Current and future exhibitions in different parts of the world are listed or signposted on the following pages

• the UK
• Europe
• the USA and Canada
• Europe
• Australasia
• Africa
• Asia

Together with links to reviews of current and past exhibitions for those who want to see the standard of artwork being exhibited. ​

Exhibitions are by:

• Botanical Art Societies 
• Horticultural Societies / Botanic Gardens
• Florilegium Societies
• Botanical Art Groups
• Commercial Art Galleries which show botanical art

​
Also listed solo exhibitions by botanical artists of note (e.g. at commercial galleries)

Please contact me (using the form on the relevant page) with details of an exhibition you think merits listing on one of these pages

ARCHIVE: Worldwide Exhibition of Botanical Art 2018

A worldwide collaboration linking people to plants through contemporary botanical art. You can access this via:

• a website Botanical Art Worldwide for the exhibition as a whole
• a page on this website for the Worldwide Exhibition of Botanical Art 2018

Both list the participating countries, and links to the calls for entries and exhibition venues and dates

(Note: The banner image is a view of the RHS Botanical Art Exhibition 2019 in the Lindley Hall in London)

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​Museums & Galleries: Major Collections of Botanical Art​ & Exhibitions
​

'Nature's Bounty' Exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art

Botanical Art created by major artists of the past and present can be seen in collections of botanical art belonging to permanent and private collections and displayed in various locations.

Permanent Collections
​

This website lists permanent Botanical Art Collections in:

• the UK
• Europe and
• the USA

​
​​These include

• National Museums and Libraries housing nationally important archives and permanent collections of botanical art and illustrations
• Botanical Gardens and Galleries with Archives of Artwork
• Museums with collections of historical images.

Private Collections
​

Major private collections tend to be displayed in venues associated with national collections.  (e.g. Shirley Sherwood Collection / Exhibitions in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery)

Botanical Art Collections - Online
​

I aim to list all the premier online collections of botanical art and illustrations which are accessible to the public. 

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Standards for artwork destined for permanent art collections
​

Here are some suggestions for the things which artists need to think about if they want their artwork to be collected by Private Collectors and/or included in major public collections..

• Media - always use quality materials and always provide detailed descriptions for their mixed media works
• Conservation - make sure materials you use for artwork and framing meet conservation requirements. Protect your materials and artwork eg handle paper with care. 
• Galleries - Identify galleries which focus on nature and natural history art
• Exhibitions - Collectors target reputable juried exhibitions e.g. The Hunt Institute International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration, ASBA, the New York Botanical Garden

• Artists - Collectors queue up for the work of very collectable artists. It's worth knowing which art dealers and/or galleries handle their work if you want to purchase work - and/or have your work purchased by serious collectors.
• Commissions - In the spirit of the original florilegiums, commissions can involve documenting the plants in gardens and on the properties of botanical art collectors.
• Framing - Don't assume your collector will spend money on the frame, make sure it is exhibition worthy and can stand the test of time.
• Focus on the Familiar - relate artwork to live plant material which is accessible where you live or exhibit and/or what collectors are interested in e.g. familiar flowers they enjoy.
• Donate - some prestigious collections accept donations from reputable botanical artists. It can be a good career move!

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UPDATES: How you can help

ANYBODY can help keep the information on the exhibition pages of this website up to date.

Please complete the form with details of:

1. Title of the Exhibition (or Collection)
   
2. Where it is being held (name of the place plus address PLUS State/Region and Country
3. Start and finish dates (if applicable)
4. Theme of the exhibition - what's behind the title
5. URL for the exhibition
6. If you'd like to send me an image e.g. an exhibition flyer you can email this to me - see CONTACT

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