The article investigates the evolution of landscape genre in contemporary art (second half of 20 th - beginning of 21 st century) in the context of issues of public art. The author considers a range of issues related to the reasons for the emergence of such phenomena and their relationship to the general crisis of Western culture. It traces the history of the emergence of the most significant trends in the mainstream of artistic transformation of nature in the United States and Western Europe since the 1970s. In particular, analyzes of land art as a trend is important in the context of public art. Also the article includes comparative analysis of stylistic characteristics of American and European examples of this trend, with mention of some important names. Separately considers the phenomenon of the newest version of the tradition of sculpture park, the best examples of which are shown in the UK. Refs 8. Figs 12.