Courtesy the Des Moines Art Center

Rendering of John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park by Agrest & Gandelsonas Architects, LLP

Martin Puryear Sol LeWitt Richard Serra Willem de Kooning Jaume Plensa Louise Bourgeois Deborah Butterfield Ellsworth Kelly

Send a letter to the Editor

Save to Del.icio.us Digg this

While the land will be owned by the city, the park will be managed by Des Moines Art Center, located a mile away. The park will be designed by New York architects Diana Agrest and Mario Gandelsonas, who have also drawn up a master plan for Des Moines.

Among the artists in the Pappajohns’ collection are Louise Bourgeois, Richard Serra, Martin Puryear, Ellsworth Kelly, Willem de Kooning, Sol LeWitt, Tony Smith, and Jaume Plensa. The park will also have a granite table and chairs designed by Scott Burton and a new commission by Deborah Butterfield.

The Pappajohns have collected art for nearly five decades and have lived with the works on the grounds surrounding their home. When asked what will become of the newly opened land around his home once the sculpture park opens in August, John Pappajohn said, “We’ll put flowers there. At least for the time being.”