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Home/New Orleans/Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden in New Orleans
bronze statue woman outstretched arms enrique alferez

Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden in New Orleans

The art deco style creations of metal, stone and concrete adorn the path through a sculpture garden in New Orleans City Park. The statues and other pieces are the works of Mexican-born sculptor Enrique Alferez, who lived in the Crescent City for 70 years.

bronze statue of woman above fountain in sculpture garden in New Orleans
The Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden in New Orleans City Park

new biography tells story of adventure

Katie Bowler Young, in partnership with The Historic New Orleans Collection, has written a biography of Enrique Alferez. Katie begins her book by explaining her own fascination with the sculptor who has pieces of his art scattered around New Orleans. While a student at the University of New Orleans, she would read and study near the Fountain of Four Winds at New Orleans Lakefront Airport, a place she had visited as a child. Alferez create the fountain in 1938. “I would just read and look at those mythical figures,” Katie explains, “I wondered who had created them. And I became humbled as I learned about the difficult journey that he traveled to pursue an art he loved.”

four figures four winds sculpture in fountain
The Fountain of the Four Winds – New Orleans Lakefront Airport

A 12-year-old boy with poncho villa

It’s a remarkable story that Enrique Alferez, at the age of 12, becomes part of the Mexican Revolutionary forces of Pancho Villa. Katie Bowler Young explains how that happened in this interview.

Hear how a young Enrique Alferez joins Poncho Villa’s army

The sculpture La Soldadera features the strong figure of the women who supported the Mexican Revolution. The defiant looking mother holds a breastfeeding infant in one arm. Her other arm holds a rifle behind her back.

statue of woman breastfeeding in sculpture garden new orleans
La Soldadera in the Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden

a new orleans sculpture garden features alferez

The Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden is a hidden gem in the Botanical Garden in New Orleans City Park. Here, visitors can stroll under giant live oak trees and see works of art that include statues of women who seem to defy gravity as they balance themselves on one hand. A stone statue features Adam and Eve reclining under a tree. A controversial piece named The Family is mounted in greenery along the garden’s fence. The nude depiction of a father, mother and child raised eyebrows when it was first displayed in public in the 1950’s.

Enrique Alferez statue of balancing woman
Enrique Alferez statue gymnast sculpture garden new orleans
statue of woman standing on one leg
nude sculpture of family with child in sculpture garden new orleans
stone statue of woman bather near trees
picture of artist Enrique Alferez
Picture of Enrique Alferez on display in the Helis Foundation Sculpture Garden

alferez in new orleans – beyond the sculpture garden

Some of the art deco facades of New Orleans buildings feature the art of Alferez. In the city’s central business district, you can find statues of the biblical character David, the Lute Player and Molly Marine. Molly is the first statue of a female member of the military in the United States. Alferez himself made reproductions of Molly Marine for military bases at Paris Island and Quantico, where they stand today. Other works by Alferez can be seen above the main entrance to New Orleans’ old Charity hospital, and at the terminal building at Lakefront Airport.

statue of david in front of building
enrique alferez statue of lute player in front of building
metal artwork above hospital entrance
art deco style airport terminal building new orleans

tv feature on sculptor enrique alferez

Watch this Heart of Louisiana TV story on Enrique Alferez

read more about it

Katie Bowler Young wrote the biography Enrique Alferez Sculptor with the support from the Helis Foundation and The Historic New Orleans Collection. The book is available at major retailers and The Historic New Orleans Collection.

visiting the sculpture garden in new orleans

The Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden is located inside the Botanical Garden at New Orleans City Park.

5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

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        Written by:
        Dave McNamara
        Published on:
        October 21, 2021
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        Categories: Featured, New Orleans

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