CFA Color Garden
Exploring art, nature, and community through plants
The CFA Color Garden is a student-led project transforming a green space into a hub for learning, sustainability, and creative exploration. Located adjacent to Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) at 855 Commonwealth Ave., the garden invites students from all disciplines and the Boston community to engage with plants, cultural traditions, and sustainable practices. It reflects the next generation of artists’ dedication to community, beauty, and honoring the origins of materials through mindful approaches to color and pigments.
Established in Spring 2024, the CFA Color Garden serves as a meeting point for interdisciplinary collaboration. Students use the garden as inspiration for drawing, a source for natural dyes, and a space to explore Indigenous and sustainable art practices. By aligning with Boston University’s goals to expand sustainable green spaces, the garden raises awareness about plants and their cultural histories within an intentionally designed environment.
As President Melissa Gilliam remarked during her Inauguration, “Art and creativity can connect us and help us see our shared humanity,” highlighting the importance of integrating arts into campus life. The garden’s proximity to CFA makes it an ideal resource for student engagement and course integration, fostering deeper connections between nature, art, and education.
What We Do
Research
Investigating the use of plants and natural materials for use in art, design, and practical applications.
Community
Cultivating urban space for outdoor education, gardening, and land stewardship conversations.
Action
Encouraging sustainable practices through hands-on activities, collaborative workshops, and interactive learning experiences.
How to Get Involved
Join the CFA Color Garden and be part of a vibrant community exploring the intersection of art, sustainability, and nature! No experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm! There are many ways to participate. For more information and to be added to the Garden mailing list email visuarts@bu.edu, subject line “Color Garden Mailing List”.
Workshops
Attend or help organize workshops that explore natural dyes, sustainable art practices, and more.
Planting and Upkeep
Help grow and maintain the garden while learning about native plants.
Research
Dive into creative projects exploring the use of plants in art, design, and cultural traditions.
Communication
Help document the Garden and activities, develop signage, and create visibility for the project and the role of green space on our campus.
CFA in Bloom
The project’s founding team considers the garden an outdoor community classroom. “That means two things,” says Lauren Boysa (CFA’25, CAS’27). “The first is a literal classroom for students to sit, observe, and draw,” she explains. “The second is a more abstract, community classroom, where anyone passing by can go in and learn something. Our garden is a piece of art, and everyone is contributing to it, whether they know it or not.”