Van Gogh Dress-Up Day
July 26, 2025
Programs & Events
Plein-Air Drop-In & Paint
Saturdays & Sundays; 12 to 3 p.m.
Various locations
Bring out your inner artist during weekend watercolor painting sessions in some of NYBG’s most beloved outdoor living collections. Guided by a visiting artist, with painting materials provided (you’re welcome to bring your own, too!), let your inspiration soar as you explore Van Gogh’s own muse—nature.
Perennial Garden
June 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, & 29; September 1, 7, October 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 19, 25, & 26
Native Plant Garden
July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27; August 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31; October 18
About the Teaching Artists
Lindsay is the co-founder of NYC Nature Drawing Club, a gathering of folks of all ages and abilities, all inspired by the natural world.
Sarah Yu‘s botanical art aims to capture the intricacies and beauty in nature. She deeply values the process of observing the natural environment and establishing a connection with botanical subjects through detailed illustration and painting outdoors. She has recently earned her Botanical Art & Illustration Certificate from the New York Botanical Garden.
The Artist at Work
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Select Dates & Select Locations
Watch an artist at work! Stop by the artist’s open-air studio to see how creative professionals working in a variety of mediums seek inspiration from the natural world that inspired Vincent van Gogh’s timeless masterpieces.
Featured Artists
Carlos Wilfredo Encarnación
May 23, 24, & 25; NYBG Shop Courtyard
Carlos W. Encarnación is a visual artist and educator born and raised in Puerto Rico. Encarnación received a BA in Social Sciences/Forensic Psychology from the Universidad of Puerto Rico, a BA in Painting from CUNY- Lehman College, and an MFA in Studio Art from CUNY-The City College of New York. He is the recipient of the Bronx Museum’s AIM Fellowship, Ankhlave Fellowship, and Wave Hill’s Winter Workspace Program. His works have been included in exhibitions at the New York Botanical Garden, Casita María Center for Arts and Education, BronxArtSpace, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, The Clemente Cultural Center, and others. Encarnación currently works and lives in The Bronx. Follow him on Instagram.
Jaron Newton
July 12 & 13
Jaron Newton is an artist and art instructor based in the Longwood neighborhood of the Bronx. Jaron’s teaching philosophy revolves around visual literacy and technical development, and the idea drawing and painting are essential to the solidification of ideas. As an artist, Jaron enjoys exploring the medium of painting and its capabilities for storytelling.
Rugged Looks
August 23 & 24; Visitor Center
Rugged Looks, owned and operated by Idris Al‑Hadidi, is a tufting studio based in Brooklyn where creativity and self‑expression come to life. In this free‑form, hands‑on experience, rug-making offers a satisfying way to bring your ideas to life, and can even be a therapeutic process. Rugged Looks provides a welcoming space to work at your own pace and create something uniquely yours. Follow them on Instagram.
J Hann
September 6 & 7; Visitor Center
J Hann is a puppeteer and fiber artist based in Upper Manhattan. Their unique textural work draws inspiration from the past and is centered in the weird, wonderful, and whimsical. J uses traditional craft work including felting, crochet, and embroidery to create fantastical worlds highlighting the queer experience. Follow them on Instagram.
Catherine Herrick Lewis
October 4 & 5; Visitor Center
Catherine Herrick Lewis is a multidisciplinary artist, professor, and mother of two based in Brooklyn, New York. Her creative practice spans works on paper and fiber, thoughtfully exploring themes of identity and motherhood through the lens of the natural world. Follow her on Instagram.
Van Gogh in Film
July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, & 27
August 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, & 31
Showings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Ross Hall
Cool off with Loving Vincent, an animated film about the life of Vincent van Gogh. Loving Vincent is a 2018 Academy Award® nominee for “Best Animated Feature Film,” and tells the story of Van Gogh’s later years through his paintings. Film is PG-13 with a run time of 94 minutes.
Image © Good Deed Entertainment
For Families: Van Grow!
May 24 through October 26
Weekdays; 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. & Weekends; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Vincent van Gogh was known for creating art full of emotion and energy—with vibrant colors and swirling brushstrokes. You and your little ones can go on an art quest at the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden as you create your own masterpiece to take home using stencils and a dabbing technique, pot up a marigold plant of your own, craft a flower sculpture to brighten up your room, and more!
Van Grow! Family Activities on Weekends
- Potting Up a Marigold
- Sunflower Print Making
- Flower Sculpture Crafting
- How Sunflowers Move: Phototropism
- In the Garden with Van Gogh Story Walk
- Art and the Environment in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
NYBG Farmers Market
Wednesdays, June 4 through October 22
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The annual NYBG Farmers Market offers weekly produce, fresh baked goods, and delicious prepared foods with featured Van Gogh-inspired fare. Sub Edge Farm provides a CSA vegetable box for registrants throughout the season.
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Location The Haupt Conservatory and surroundings
Location The Haupt Conservatory and surroundings