Discover this stunning collection of large-scale artworks, located just 12 miles north of Pittsburgh in the rolling hills of Hartwood Acres Park. Most of these sculptures have been newly conserved to their original grandeur, offering visitors a view of this significant collection with the backdrop of nature and native plantings. The collection is anchored by a 1929 Tudor Revival mansion, a preserved example of an equestrian country estate.

The impressive sculpture collection was originally acquired by Allegheny County through a program led by Carol R. Brown, the former director of Allegheny County’s Bureau of Cultural Programs, that brought art to Hartwood Acres Park. Beginning in 1979 and extending into the 1980s, Brown worked with Leon Arkus, director of the Carnegie Museum of Art from 1969 until 1980, and Sydney Feldman, a Carnegie Museum of Art board member and owner of Tygart Steel, to install eleven sculptures by nationally and internationally renowned artists throughout the park. Works by Tillie Speyer and Lila Katzen were installed in the first year, with works by Betty Gold, Jack Youngerman, Ron Bennett, and Lyman Kipp installed by the early 1980s. By the mid-1990s, an additional five sculptures were added, including works by artists Fletcher Benton, Peter Forakis, David Hayes, Clement Meadmore, and Charles Ginnever. One additional sculpture by David von Schlegell was acquired in the following decades.

After decades of exposure, many sculptures required conservation. The Allegheny County Parks Foundation and Allegheny County spearheaded a major restoration project – a total investment of over $5 million – to preserve the collection and relocate a majority of the sculptures to a cohesive garden near the Hartwood Acres Mansion. This multi-year effort included installing new concrete foundations for the sculptures, ADA-accessible walkways, native landscaping, and environmentally friendly parking areas, all designed using “green” principles. It also features a new sculpture commissioned from Wilkinsburg artist, Dee Briggs.

The redesigned space, named the Carol R. Brown Sculpture Garden, opened in spring 2022. Visitors can now view the sculptures in cohesive groupings that highlight their grandeur and significance while exploring a space that integrates art, accessibility, and sustainable design.