Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved novel, The Secret Garden offers visitors a refuge from Wisconsin’s harsh winter months and the gray faceless mask of covid.

The Secret Garden is an explosion of color, fantasy, and imagination waiting to be explored through paintings, drawings, works on paper, photographs, murals, sculpture, ceramics, and glass.

The exhibition is curated from the Warehouse Art Museum’s nationally recognized permanent collection, together with new works commissioned for the show.

With every turn through the garden’s secret passageways, you will be surrounded by surprise, hope, healing, serenity, fairy-tale charm and the reassuring red thread of beauty.

Walk barefoot through the cool stream water of William Kentridge’s family garden. Stride with Faith Ringgold through a field of aromatic sunflowers and see, is it possible, Vincent van Gogh? Listen with Pablo Picasso to the spring-time chirps of a just-hatched dove! Meet these artists and many more in your secret garden.

Curated by Danielle L. Paswaters

Danielle L. Paswaters, Director of Exhibitions and Collections at The Warehouse

Shepherd Express, (03/29/2022)

Explore the 'Secret Garden' at the Warehouse Art Museum in Milwaukee’s design district

TMJ4 Milwaukee Tonight, (03/18/2022) See The Warehouse on TMJ4 Cassandra's Hidden Gems

Milwaukee’s Design District

MKElifestyle, (02/18/2022) The Warehouse Art Museum is featured alongisde neighboring businesses and services in the Design District of Milwaukee.

The Secret Garden: New Floral Exhibit Brings Magical Expressions of Spring to Milwaukee’s Dull COVID Winter

Milwaukee Independent, (02/10/2022)

The Warehouse photo named "Best Photo of the Day"

Artdaily, (02/08/2022) An Artdaily feature in their newsletter as "The Best Photo of the Day" with an image taken for our upcoming exhibition The Secret Garden.

The Secret Garden Closing Reception

Guest Speakers Joe Keenan, Corey Zetts, and Eddee Daniel | 05/27/22 @ 4pm

“Art and the Kitchen Garden - Monticello, Monet, Milwaukee”

Lisa Shultz | 05/18/22 @ 4pm

“Cultivating Community in the Ancient Andes”

Dr. David Pacifico | 05/06/22 @ 4pm

Gallery Night & Day

The Secret Garden | 04/22-23/22 @ 5-8pm, 11-2pm

“Unlocking the Secret Garden: From Colonialism to Climate Crisis”

Dr. Sarah Wadsworth | 04/08/22 @ 4pm

The Secret Garden Artist Party

04/01/22 @ 4-6pm

“Seasons of the Garden: Celestial Connections”

Dr. Jean Creighton | 03/24/22 @ 4pm

Wednesday Lunch Hour Curator’s Tour

The Secret Garden guided tour by Curator, Danielle L. Paswaters | 05/25, 05/11, 04/27, 04/13, 03/30, 03/16, 03/02 @ noon

The Secret Garden Opening Reception

02/18/22 @ 4-8pm