It’s hard to imagine the Getty Center without its bold yet inviting greenery, paths, and blooms—a living work of art. The Central Garden was designed by Robert Irwin, an artist who had gained prominence for his Abstract Expressionist paintings and public installations. In 1997 he brought his eye for light, space, and scale in his landscape design to the Getty Center.

A few years after the Getty Center opened, writer and critic Lawrence Weschler accompanied Irwin on a series of walks around the Central Garden. During these walks, Irwin talked about the critical choices he made to create this unique, ever-changing space. In 2002 these conversations were published in Robert Irwin Getty Garden, a book that reveals the artistic intent behind the garden’s design.

A revised edition of the book was published earlier this year and is available now.