Art in the Gardens: 125th Anniversary

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From June 2026, see art boards co-created by a Goldsmiths Art and Ecology MA graduate and learners at Conisborough College to celebrate the Horniman’s 125th Anniversary.

Over the course of four workshops which were run by Goldsmiths Art and Ecology MA graduate Aristeidis Lappas, Conisborough College Year 9 learners created artwork to celebrate the Horniman’s 125th anniversary. They were inspired by visiting different habitats within the Gardens which have been created to encourage biodiversity as well as climate resilience.

Learners sketched directly from plants in the Gardens and a range of animal specimens in the Horniman’s Handling Collection. In school, they layered watercolour and oil pastel onto their drawings, using colour expressively.

Through the project, learners explored different ways the Gardens are supporting local nature at a time of climate and ecological crisis. The five boards which showcase learners’ work created during the workshops will be on display from late June.

See the results of this partnership on display in the Gardens throughout the summer.

Conisborough College

Conisborough College is a secondary school in Lewisham. The students who attend the school bring with them a diversity of experiences and backgrounds – both socially and culturally – and the school community is built on the strengths of this local diversity. The project gave Year 9 art pupils the opportunity to play an active part in their local community, and the chance to motivate and inspire others through their artwork.

Aristeidis Lappas

Aristeidis Lappas (b. 1993 Athens) lives and works between London and Athens. He completed his BA degree at the University of West England, Bristol, during which time he took part in an exchange program with the Accademia di Belle Arti, Bologna. He is currently doing his MA in Art and Ecology at Goldsmiths University of London with the support of Neon Grant & Scholarships 2026. His work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions, most recently Forever Fish, The Breeder Gallery, Athens (2025) and Gifts of the Moon Crab, Ludwigshafen Kunstveirein, Germany (2024). He has participated in many residencies, amongst which Styria-Artist-in-Residence, Graz, Tryfon Art Residency, Lesbos and Thermia Project, Kythnos. His work was also part of the 7th Athens Biennale ‘Eclipse’ (2021) and Frieze London (2024, 2025). Lappas is represented by The Breeder, Athens.

 

Horniman Museum & Gardens illustrated visitor map for "Art in the Gardens: 125th Anniversary," showing paths, trees and labeled attractions (conservatory, butterfly house, bandstand, animal walk), five numbered art-trail stops, and a QR code to scan for more information.

Art Boards Map

Painting in the Horniman Gardens, depicting wildlife such as insects.
‘Have you noticed big piles of sticks around the Gardens? They’re not just fallen branches! Habitat piles are constructed using cuttings from all kinds of plants. They create homes for decomposers like fungi, bugs and other invertebrates. Leaves trap carbon dioxide to prevent it from having a larger impact on our planet. The habitat pile made me feel hopeful because it recycles nutrients. I see it as a home for lots of living things and a safe space.’ Conisborough College student
Painting in the Horniman Gardens, depicting wildlife such as bees and butterflies.
‘This area is special. It’s a dry habitat built on recycled construction waste. It consists of many unique plants which can survive extreme conditions such as droughts and heatwaves. They don’t need much water and they encourage pollinators, like bees and butterflies. While making the artwork, I wanted to express how the plants made me feel, so chose vibrant colours. I was really inspired by the ability of these plants to survive and wanted to know more about the Gardens.' Conisborough College student
Painting in the Horniman Gardens, depicting wildlife such as sunflowers and birds.
‘In the Sunken Garden, there are many flowers with warm colours like yellow, orange and red. It has fruit trees and a pond made deeper to help animals that live there. It is very biodiverse with birds like goldfinches and invertebrates like dragonflies. In the artwork, notice how crowded every living thing is and how close the different species are. The Garden made me think how beautiful nature is and how important it is to everyone in this community. Making the artwork made me feel joy as I love to create art.’ Conisborough College student
Painting in the Horniman Gardens, depicting a yellow bird and a blue bird.
‘We learned about the micro-forest in the Horniman Gardens. It was planted using the Miyawaki method. This is when you plant trees close together, so they compete for sunlight and develop faster. The forest is close to a main road so it reduces noise and pollution as the trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air. It helps wildlife like birds and squirrels by creating a home for them. I love the trees because the sounds of nature make me feel peaceful. It seems like they are speaking to each other.’ Conisborough College student
Painting in the Horniman Gardens, depicting wildlife such as butterflies and flowers.
‘This area is a place where diverse species thrive. There are plants from different countries around the world, like South Africa. In the wild, many of these plants are endangered. When we were making the artwork, we used constrasting colours to show the beauty of nature and the abundance of life. I felt at ease and soothed going into the Grasslands Garden. Can you spot the rodents in our artwork?’ Conisborough College student