Sean Kenney’s “Nature Connects” brings animals, plants, and ecosystems to life across the historic gardens using thousands of LEGO bricks.
If your child is as captivated with LEGOs as mine was, you’re in luck. This spring, Old Westbury Gardens will once again become home to something a little unexpected: life-sized animals, blooming flowers, and garden scenes, all built entirely from LEGO bricks.
Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects: Made with LEGO Bricks runs from May 15 through September 7, 2026, turning the grounds into an outdoor exhibition that blends art, nature, and a whole lot of childhood nostalgia.
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A Garden Walk Filled With Surprise
One of the fun parts of the exhibits is that the installations are scattered throughout the property, so you come across them as you walk, sometimes in open lawns, other times tucked into garden paths.
You’ll see a fox caught mid-step, a cluster of bright flowers, or a butterfly suspended in motion. At first glance, they feel playful, and then you start noticing how detailed they are, and become fascinated. Consider how exciting that is for a kid obsessed with LEGOs.
Everything in the show connects back to one interesting idea: that nature works the same way LEGO does. Each piece depends on another, and if you take something away, the whole structure shifts. It’s not only a lesson in science and LEGO making, but something we can all consider a little more about the world at large.
“At Old Westbury Gardens, we believe that meaningful encounters with nature can spark curiosity and creativity at any age,” said Maura Brush, President and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens.
More Than Just Playful Sculptures
Kenney has done this kind of work before, blending art with education in a way that is fun. The sculptures are eye-catching, but they also point to bigger ideas about ecosystems, habitat loss, and how connected everything in nature really is.
There’s no set route through the exhibit. You just wander, stop when something catches your eye, and notice things you’d normally walk right past. That’s really the whole point.
Some people will just see it as a fun garden walk with big LEGO animals, but others will leave thinking a little differently about how fragile those systems really are.
Special Events at Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Gardens will also host a series of themed programs tied to Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects® Made with LEGO® Bricks:
Bricks & Brews (Adults Only)
May 21 & Aug 6 | 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
After-hours exhibit tour followed by a LEGO build and drinks.
Brick Builders: Build Together
May 28 | 4:30 pm–5:30 pm
Kids and adults build a LEGO flower stand project together.
Backyard Bugs Family Night
May 30 | 5 pm–8 pm
Live insects, hands-on bug stations, and garden exploration after hours.
Brick Builders: Build Wild
June 25 | 4:30 pm–5:30 pm
Guided walk plus LEGO tropical toucan build to take home.
Seasonal Sprouts (Ages 4–10)
Select Wednesdays, July 1–Sept 2 | 11 am–12 pm & 2 pm–3 pm
Short guided tour followed by open LEGO play.
Magic in the Making Family Night
July 18 | 5 pm–8 pm
Costumes, creativity, and an after-hours garden experience.
Take Flight Family Night
Aug 15 | 5 pm–8 pm
Birds of prey demo, bat walk, and nighttime garden exploration.
Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects: Made with LEGO Bricks is open daily (except Tuesdays), May 15–September 7, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pm.
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