Giants in the Garden: RBG Unveils Ambitious AR Sculpture Show

BURLINGTON, ON – May 04, 2026 – This summer, the serene landscapes of the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) will be transformed into a whimsical wonderland where nature, monumental art, and digital reality converge. Coinciding with its 85th anniversary, RBG is set to unveil ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey, its largest and most ambitious exhibition to date. Opening June 20, the exhibition marks the first Canadian showing for internationally acclaimed contemporary sculptor Ken Kelleher, known as Anchorball, whose work promises to turn the gardens into an immersive spectacle of character and discovery.

The exhibition features 18 towering sculptures, some reaching up to 12 feet in height, scattered throughout the picturesque Rose Garden. But the experience extends beyond the physical, inviting visitors to hunt for a hidden digital world using their smartphones, creating a multi-layered journey for all ages.

Beyond Blooms: A New Cultural Vision

For the Royal Botanical Gardens, ANCHORBALL represents more than just a summer attraction; it's a bold declaration of its evolving identity. Long celebrated for its vast collection of plants and its role as a vital center for horticultural science, RBG is now firmly positioning itself as a premier destination for culture and the arts.

"This exhibition is part of our broader vision to position RBG as a destination for both nature and culture," said Keith Scott, Chair of the Board of Directors at Royal Botanical Gardens, in a statement. "This exhibition brings together large-scale sculpture, landscape, and visitor experience in a way that expands what a botanical garden can offer."

This strategic pivot is not without precedent. In 2021, RBG was one of only 12 botanical gardens worldwide to host "Seeing the Invisible," a groundbreaking augmented reality art show. That experience, which superimposed digital artworks onto the natural landscape, laid the groundwork for the more integrated "phygital" (physical and digital) approach seen in ANCHORBALL. By commissioning its own large-scale, technologically integrated exhibition, RBG is building on that success, investing in unique cultural programming that aims to attract new and diverse audiences while strengthening its appeal as a major tourism hub in Ontario.

The Curious World of Ken Kelleher

At the heart of the exhibition is the distinctive artistic universe of Ken Kelleher. Known professionally as Anchorball, the American sculptor has gained international renown for his "Luminal Pop" style—a fusion of character design, monumental scale, and narrative world-building. His works are not just statues; they are characters with personalities, emissaries from an imaginative world dropped into our own.

The 18 sculptures in ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey are divided into distinct series that populate the garden. The Venus Floralis series features surreal, eight-foot-tall figures that blend human forms with botanical elements, creating a dreamlike fusion of humanity and nature. They are joined by the Main Characters—Willy, Winky, Bunni B, and Quantum Leap—bold, expressive figures, each with its own story. Towering over them all are pieces from the Florals series, including Mystifloria and Kung Pao, which exaggerate the forms of the surrounding plant life to a colossal 12-foot scale.

Kelleher’s practice often explores themes of humor, memory, and imagination through bold colors and exaggerated forms. His background, which spans formal training in sculpture and a career as a creative director, informs his ability to create immersive environments that resonate with contemporary visual culture. His works have been installed in public spaces from Miami to Dubai and Seoul, but the RBG exhibition is a significant milestone.

"This is my first exhibition in Canada and one of the largest I've presented to date," Kelleher stated. "To install it at Royal Botanical Gardens is a unique opportunity, the characters feel like they belong here. They've arrived for the summer, and it's something you need to experience in person."

Where Nature Meets the Metaverse

What sets ANCHORBALL apart is its seamless integration of technology. Beyond the impressive physical sculptures, a second, invisible exhibition layer awaits discovery. Visitors are encouraged to use their smartphones to embark on a digital treasure hunt, searching for five hidden augmented reality "Cloudwalkers" placed throughout the gardens.

This gamified experience transforms the passive act of viewing art into an active quest. Once a visitor successfully locates all five digital characters, a final "AR Masterpiece" is unlocked—a unique digital artwork that can only be experienced through this interaction. The augmented reality component also features audio reflections from the artist, providing deeper insight into the world of the characters and his creative process. This blend of physical and digital art is at the forefront of a global trend where cultural institutions are using technology to create more engaging and accessible experiences.

The innovative approach has garnered praise from government officials. "ANCHORBALL brings a bold and playful new experience to the Royal Botanical Gardens, blending larger‑than‑life art, digital discovery and natural beauty in a way that's innovative and inspiring," said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. "This immersive spectacle is a visual, interactive treat for people of all ages."

The setting itself, RBG's sustainable Rose Garden, has been curated to complement the art, featuring cold-hardy Canadian rose varieties and companion plantings that create a picturesque backdrop. The curated pathways guide visitors on a journey not just through a garden, but through a story.

ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey will be on view from June 20 to September 20, 2026. The Royal Botanical Gardens are open daily, and tickets are available now at rbg.ca/anchorball, with adult admission starting at $19.50 and rates available for children, youth, and seniors.