| Membership | Price (+HST) |
|---|---|
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $300/year |
| Supporting | $600/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey
ANCHORBALL:
A Curious Art Journey
- Outdoor exhibit featuring 18 large-scale Pop Art sculptures
- Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (final admission: 4 p.m.)
- Admission Required
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.
Come experience a joyful fusion of nature and art designed for curiosity, fun, exploration, and imagination.
Included in your Garden Admission ticket or RBG Membership.
Tickets
“ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey” is included in your Garden Admission, providing access to RBG Centre / Hendrie Park (location of the exhibit) and Rock Garden (~2km away) on the date of your visit.
Tickets are available online, or in-person.
| Ticket Category | Weekdays* | Weekends + Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Adult |
$19.50 | $24.50 |
| Senior (Age 65+) | $16.50 | $21.50 |
| Youth (Age 13 to 17) | $16.50 | $21.50 |
| Child (Age 3-12) |
$11.50 | $16.50 |
| Infant (Age 0-2) |
FREE | FREE |
| RBG Members |
Included in membership (A number of tickets appropriate to your membership type) |
|
All prices subject to HST and $2 online service fee
*Weekend rates apply for Canada Day, Civic Holiday and Labour Day
Ticketing Details and Terms
- Tickets purchased to RBG events are final sale and non-refundable. Full price tickets may be transferred to another person without restriction should you be unable to attend. Tickets purchased with a member discount are transferable solely to another active RBG member. All active RBG members must present their valid RBG membership card and photo ID at event entry with any discounted event ticket. Please keep your tickets and confirmation: it is proof of your purchase and allows entry into the experience.
- Member Ticket Transfer Limitations: When discounted RBG member tickets are transferred between members, the tickets must correspond to the recipient’s membership level and ticket allotment. A member may only receive discounted tickets up to the maximum number permitted by their membership tier. For example, a Single Membership holder may receive only one discounted ticket through any transfer. Any additional tickets beyond the recipient’s membership allotment must be repurchased at the full regular price.
- Discounted Ticket Allotments Per Membership Type: Single: 1, Single Plus: Up to 2, Family: Up to 2 adults and 6 children, Family Plus: Up to 4 adults and 6 children, All Charitable Memberships: Up to 4 adults and 6 children.
- Cancellation: RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to extreme inclement weather with little to no notice (ticket purchasers will be contacted by email).
- Liability: RBG assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property, or for personal injury or mishap; all activities are at the risk of the participant.
- Filming/Photography Release: Please be advised that all photos, audio-video, and static images taken at this experience may be used for exhibit, reproduction, and/or distribution for RBG related promotional use, including all forms of print, television advertisement, social media and /or website display. In consideration of your participation as a guest or attendee of this experience, you authorize Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use such photos and images under their sole discretion. Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns are released without limitation of any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.
- By purchasing tickets and participating in this experience on RBG properties, you are agreeing to the above release for yourself, and on behalf of your guests.
About the Artist
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.
Select Past Exhibitions Include:
- Off the Charts, Art Basel, USA, 2019
- Trove Gallery, Dubai, 2023
- Garden of Dreams, South Korea, 2024
- Airside, China, 2024
- Greatest Year of the Dragon, Thailand, 2024
- Numerous private, corporate and institutional collections.
Learn more at kenkelleher.com
In Hendrie Park
- 680 Plains Rd. W. Burlington ON
- Outdoor Exhibition
- On-Site Parking Available (see F.A.Q.s)
Generously supported by:
Bronze Sponsor
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about this experience? Click the topics below for more information. If you have a question that is not answered, give us a call at 905-527-1158 or send us a message.
Tickets
Your tickets will be emailed to you as a pdf attachment shortly after online payment. You will be required to present these tickets upon arrival, either printed out or digitally on your personal device.
Tickets are final sale.
Parking & Directions
This experience is outdoors in Hendrie Park at 680 Plains Road W. Burlington Ontario. Enter through RBG Centre, proceeding through the building to the tunnel under the stree to Hendrie Park.
Parking is included, available in the large lot at RBG Centre. Additional parking is available in the smaller Cherry Hill parking lot (across the street), though this will require crossing the street and a short walk to RBG Centre for entry.
RBG Centre is located along bus routes for Burlington Transit, with stops a short distance from the entrance.
Get there with GO! Learn more about arriving with GO Transit.
See directions and parking for more details.
Washrooms
Washrooms are available inside RBG Centre, and at the teahouse.
Weather Policy
This event is held outdoors in a non-covered area and is subject to weather conditions. RBG reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, or cancel the event due to inclement weather, unforeseen circumstances, or other conditions that may impact the safety of guests, staff, or performers. Ticket holders will be notified of any changes via email, which may occur without prior notice. RBG is not responsible for any additional costs incurred by ticket holders.
No Smoking
Effective January 1, 2012, Royal Botanical Gardens and its property is smoke-free. Smoking and vaping of any kind is prohibited in all properties owned by Royal Botanical Gardens. This includes all buildings, common work areas, garden areas, natural lands, trails and parking areas including vehicles.
Accessibility
The ANCHORBALL exhibition is placed throughout Hendrie Garden. Works are placed on special concrete pads and are not accessible with touch. Works placed within garden beds or grassed areas are all within viewing distance of accessible paths throughout the garden.
The ANCHORBALL digital experience includes augmented reality and audio features available to all users. By scanning a QR code with your smartphone camera at each work, a guest can listen to a short recording by the artist about their inspiration for the work.
Pets & Service Animals
With the exception of service animals, personal dogs/cats/animals are not permitted.
Terms & Conditions
- Tickets purchased to RBG events are final sale and non-refundable. Full price tickets may be transferred to another person without restriction should you be unable to attend. Tickets purchased with a member discount are transferable solely to another active RBG member. All active RBG members must present their valid RBG membership card and photo ID at event entry with any discounted event ticket. Please keep your tickets and confirmation: it is proof of your purchase and allows entry into the experience.
- Member Ticket Transfer Limitations: When discounted RBG member tickets are transferred between members, the tickets must correspond to the recipient’s membership level and ticket allotment. A member may only receive discounted tickets up to the maximum number permitted by their membership tier. For example, a Single Membership holder may receive only one discounted ticket through any transfer. Any additional tickets beyond the recipient’s membership allotment must be repurchased at the full regular price.
- Discounted Ticket Allotments Per Membership Type: Single: 1, Single Plus: Up to 2, Family: Up to 2 adults and 6 children, Family Plus: Up to 4 adults and 6 children, All Charitable Memberships: Up to 4 adults and 6 children.
- Cancellation: RBG reserves the right to cancel the event due to extreme inclement weather with little to no notice (ticket purchasers will be contacted by email).
- Liability: RBG assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property, or for personal injury or mishap; all activities are at the risk of the participant.
- Filming/Photography Release: Please be advised that all photos, audio-video, and static images taken at this experience may be used for exhibit, reproduction, and/or distribution for RBG related promotional use, including all forms of print, television advertisement, social media and /or website display. In consideration of your participation as a guest or attendee of this experience, you authorize Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use such photos and images under their sole discretion. Royal Botanical Gardens, its legal representatives, suppliers, invited media and assigns are released without limitation of any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.
- By purchasing tickets and participating in this experience on RBG properties, you are agreeing to the above release for yourself, and on behalf of your guests.
