Smith-Gilbert Gardens and the City of Kennesaw invite the community to experience Art Blooms 2026 – Inherent Resilience: Healing Through Art and Nature, a two-month, citywide celebration of creativity, connection, and renewal. Taking place throughout April and May, Art Blooms transforms gardens, parks, trails, and public spaces into immersive art experiences that explore how art and nature inspire healing and growth.
For the duration of Art Blooms, the permanent collection will be complemented by a temporary outdoor sculpture exhibit showcasing regional artists, along with specially painted wooden eggs created by students from Cobb County high schools, highlighting student creativity and artistic expression.
Members of the community may participate in the Art Blooms scavenger hunt. Beginning April 1, participants can pick up scavenger hunt cards at City Hall, Smith-Gilbert Gardens, the Southern Museum, and several participating locations throughout Downtown Kennesaw. Each location will stamp the card once.
Once the card is filled with stamps, participants should drop it off at City Hall, 2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue, by Friday, May 29, by 4 p.m. for a chance to win prizes. Prizes, donated by local businesses, can be redeemed at Smith-Gilbert Gardens.
A full schedule programs, workshops, and performances will take place throughout the exhibit, including:
• April 4: Art in the Garden for Kids
• April 11: Creative Photography
• April 11: Garden Learning Series – Edible Elegance
• April 15: Spring Plein Air Paint Out with Jeff Surace
• April 17,18, 24, 25: KSU Theatre and Performance Studies Department presents The Beauty Project: Through the Looking Glass
• April 25: Art Hatch Spring Arts Festival
• May 2: Art in the Garden for Kids
• May 13: Spring Plein Air Paint Out with Jeff Surace
• May 16: Insect Pinning and Other Natural Wonders
A highlight of the exhibit is the Art Hatch: Spring Arts Festival, taking place on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Smith-Gilbert Gardens. This spring celebration of the arts brings Art Blooms to life with live music, theater performances by Kennesaw State University, visual and performing artist demonstrations, arts and crafts, and a scavenger hunt throughout the Gardens. The Beauty Project: Through the Looking Glass, an immersive theater performance presented by KSU, will have showtimes at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Guests are invited to create their own artwork and view art installations while enjoying a vibrant festival atmosphere designed for all ages. Staff from North Cobb Library will offer crafts, books and story time. Art Hatch activities are included with regular Garden admission, and Garden members receive free admission. A ticket purchase for the KSU theatre performance on April 25 also includes full access to all Art Hatch activities, and no additional ticket is required for the theater performances during the festival.
New for 2026, the City of Kennesaw is partnering with the Marietta Arts Council to present a Sculpture Tour, with an installation featured in Depot Park and various locations throughout the City of Marietta, expanding Art Blooms’ regional impact.
This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts.
Art Blooms is supported in part by the Town Center Community, Cobb County School Visual Arts Department, SA White Oil, and the Marietta Arts Council, with additional support provided by the City of Kennesaw, Smith-Gilbert Gardens Foundation, and Kennesaw State University.
