ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey at Royal Botanical Gardens

Royal Botanical Gardens

ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey

June 20 – September 20, 2026 | 10am – 5pm (final admission: 4pm)
Hendrie Park, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington
Get tickets here | All Ages

The Canadian premiere of ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey is coming to Royal Botanical Gardens this summer!

Explore the vibrant sculptural universe of artist and contemporary sculptor Ken Kelleher, internationally known as Anchorball. This massive outdoor exhibition transforms the garden into a vivid sculptural landscape where bold characters, imaginative narratives, and contemporary form merge with nature and blooms to create a world that feels full of wonder, yet deeply recognizable.

Featuring 18 monumental sculptures ranging up to 12 feet tall, the exhibition introduces visitors to an evolving fictional universe, known as Low Orbit City, populated by playful and mythical characters. In addition to the physical installations, visitors can discover a hidden digital world using augmented reality with characters known as Cloudwalkers and unlock an AR Masterpiece, extending the experience beyond the visible landscape and inviting moments of surprise, play, and exploration throughout the garden. Audio storytelling, interpretative signs, and digital experiences further deepen engagement with the characters, and their world.

Formally trained yet driven by a singular creative vision, Kelleher has developed a distinctive artistic language he describes as “Luminal Pop.” His work translates graphic sensibilities into immersive 3-dimensional form, creating sculptural presences that feel alive with personality, emotion, and narrative tension. Each character operates as both an individual identity and part of a larger unfolding story, one that continues to expand across exhibitions, environments, and encounters with the public.

Whether fans of Anchorball’s work or newcomers discovering it for the first time, all visitors can experience a joyful fusion of nature and art designed for curiosity, fun, exploration, and imagination.

Ticket Prices: General Tickets: Non-Members $19.50 – $24.50 (Prices subject to HST and online service fee). Members: Free access.

Canada Strong Pass: With Canada Strong Pass, children 17 and under receive free daytime Garden Admission, and young adults ages 18–24 enjoy 50% off until September 7.

Ken Kelleher

“This is my first exhibition in Canada and one of the largest I’ve presented to date. To install it at Royal Botanical Gardens is a unique opportunity, the characters feel like they belong here. They’ve arrived for the summer, and it’s something you need to experience in person.” – Ken Kelleher (aka Anchorball)

Related Programming

RBG After Dark Events: ANCHORBALL (19+)
July 3, August 8, August 22 & September 5, 2026 | 6:30 – 10:30pm (final entry: 9pm)
Hendrie Park Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, ON
Get After Dark tickets here

RBG After Dark transforms ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey into a vibrant evening experience for adults. Explore the gardens after hours surrounded by 18 large-scale pop art sculptures, illuminated pathways, live entertainment, food, drinks, and interactive experiences throughout the night.

Discover the playful and imaginative world of internationally recognized artist Ken Kelleher, known as Anchorball, where bold characters, contemporary sculpture, nature, and augmented reality come together across the garden landscape. Guests can also uncover hidden digital Cloudwalkers and unlock an AR Masterpiece as part of the experience.

Gather with friends, enjoy a summer night in the gardens, and experience a unique fusion of art, music, nightlife, and exploration.

This is a 19+ event; for an all-ages experience purchase daytime admission tickets during standard opening hours.

About Ken Kelleher

Anchorball is the creative practice of contemporary sculptor Ken Kelleher, whose work explores the intersection of monumental sculpture, character design, and narrative world-building. Known for bold colour, exaggerated form, and emotionally expressive characters, Kelleher creates sculptural environments that merge imagination with contemporary visual culture. His work spans monumental public installations, studio editions, paintings, and collectible art objects. Across these mediums, his practice forms part of an expanding mythological landscape populated by characters from evolving worlds such as ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey, a narrative universe where humor, curiosity, memory, and imagination converge through sculpture. Learn more at kenkelleher.com

About Royal Botanical Gardens

Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), proudly celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2026, is the not-for-profit caretaker of 2193 acres of land and ecosystems surrounded by Canada’s largest urban environment. RBG is an educator and experience creator delivering cultural, artistic, and culinary experiences throughout its diverse network of gardens and natural spaces.

For more information about Royal Botanical Gardens, please visit rbg.ca.

Royal Botanical Gardens
680 Plains Road West
Burlington, ON L7T 4H4
www.rbg.ca
Email: info@rbg.ca
Phone: 905-527-1158
Toll Free: 1-800-694-4769

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Facebook: @RoyalBotanicalGardens
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Tags: RBGAnchorball

Accessibility:
Royal Botanical Gardens is fully accessible. For more information, visit here.