Langlais Art Preserve
A nature and sculpture park that celebrates the works of folk artist Bernard Langlais
The Langlais Art Preserve is a unique 90 acre property in Cushing where the funky outdoor folk art pieces of Bernard Langlais are displayed to the elements. In addition to the 10 acre art section, there is a larger wooded piece of the property with 2.75 miles of trails. Bernard Langlais lived and worked at this cottage and created and displayed many of his pieces from 1966-1977. The preserve is now owned and operated by the Georges River Land Trust. Donations of $10/person are encouraged but not required.
The Art
The large format sculptures are very accessible (ADA approved). There are about 20 pieces scattered around. Stone paths bring you up close and personal and you can even go under some of the taller pieces. The main cottage and studio sit by the road and there are a few other buildings including an Events barn.
The displayed pieces include the 13-foot tall “Horse” which sits by the road (and was his first large outdoor piece). You’ll also see his homage to the crawling woman in Wyeth’s “Christina’s World,” a Richard Nixon flashing his famous peace signs in a pond, and a bunch of animal sculptures. The Olsen house (in Christina’s World) is also in Cushing in case you want to connect the dots.
The Trails
Extending from the sculpture loop is a fairly well-maintained 2.75 mile set of trails. The trails consist of a few loops so you can do shorter or longer hikes depending on your interest. During a June 2026 visit, there were a number of wooden geometric sculptures sitting in the woods along the trail that made for a bit of a scavenger hunt.
Blackie Langlais, the Artist
Bernard “Blackie” Langlais (1921-1977) was an eccentric painter and sculptor from Old Town artist who might be best known for the the “World’s Tallest Indian” sculpture in Skowhegan. He started his career as an oil painter, with scholarships to the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., a Fulbright to Norway, and a scholarship to the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. He moved to Cushing permanently where he created 65 outdoor pieces and displayed them around the property.
After he died in 1977, his widow Helen stayed at the cottage and cared for the sculptures. After she died in 2010, the property was given to Colby College. The Kohler Foundation then bought the property and gifted it to the Georges River Land Trust. Together, they embarked on a 5 year, $2.5 million restoration. The Preserve opened in 2012.
