Beaulieu’s Palace House will once again be home to more than 300 sculptures this summer, with a new exhibition showcasing the work of over 57 international and national sculptors, throughout the grounds and gardens and inside the Montagu family home.
Sculpture at Beaulieu from June 17th to September 24th will bring together an astonishing variety of eye-catching and thought-provoking works by highly acclaimed sculptors, all taking their places in the atmospheric historic setting.
Building on the success of the previous exhibitions in 2019 and 2021, the sculptures on show will encompass a diverse range of materials and methods, ranging from little to large, stone to steel, glass to mixed media and more. Every piece on show will be for sale, with something to suit all tastes and budgets.
In the Abbey Cloister, award-winning RHS Chelsea exhibitor, sculptor Nicolas Moreton will display an exhibition of work featuring a selection of his figurative stone sculptures. Nicolas will also be at Beaulieu for a number of Sculpture Evenings throughout July and August.
Other featured sculptors include Ireland’s Sandra Bell with her striking cast bronze sculptures, Harmony Altissimo and Emergence Maya 11. Jill Berelowitz and Jonty Hurwitz, both South African, will also be exhibiting. Jill, whose high-profile commissions have been exhibited at Sotheby’s, Heathrow, and RHS Chelsea, is known for her bronze, steel and optical resin works, and amongst her sculptures will be Moving Forward, a collection of three human-form bronze sculptures over two metres high. Jonty is internationally recognised for his pioneering work in which he creates scientifically-inspired artworks and anamorphic sculptures, including the painted copper and stainless steel Rosso Horse on display in the exhibition.
A collection of ten sculptures by Cheshire-born Joanne Risley will be displayed throughout the gardens, representing forms derived from botany and biology, fabricated using geometric shapes in cor-teen steel.
Local sculptor Michael Turner, who every year creates a trail of handmade poppies around the New Forest in aid of the Royal British Legion, will be contributing other breathtaking stainless steel works to the exhibition.
Another local sculptor, based just a stone’s throw away from Beaulieu, is Gary Boulton, whose eye-catching contemporary sculptures are inspired by nature, yet beautifully crafted from steel.
With a line-up of more than 38 sculptors new to Beaulieu for 2023, along with returning artists showcasing new pieces, Sculpture at Beaulieu curators David Waghorne and Kate McGovern have chosen sculptors for their internationally-acclaimed work and diversity in materials and styles.
Curator David Waghorne said: “We are delighted to be back for a third year at Beaulieu. Once again, every piece has been carefully selected to complement its setting. There will be an eclectic mix of work to be seen, from figurative sculptures and abstract pieces to key signature pieces.
“With its own special atmosphere, the cloister of Beaulieu Abbey is a particularly sensitive area to curate and we think visitors will enjoy Nicolas Moreton’s exhibition within this space.”
Beaulieu’s Head of Marketing Rachael Goldstraw said: “The previous two exhibitions have been very well received by our day visitors as well as sculpture enthusiasts, so we are very much looking forward to the extended run this year.”
There will be five Thursday evenings throughout July and August when a sculpture-only ticket will provide access to the whole exhibition, between 5pm and 8pm.
Rachael added: “These were lovely occasions in 2021, providing the opportunity to explore the sculptures in the warm evening sun with a glass of something cold.”
A catalogue of all the exhibition sculptures will be available to purchase on arrival at Beaulieu’s Visitor Reception, or for a preview of the sculptures on display, visit www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/sculpture-at-beaulieu.
Sculpture at Beaulieu is included in an admission ticket to Beaulieu, which also includes entry to the National Motor Museum, Little Beaulieu, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu home Palace House, Secret Army exhibition, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the stunning grounds and gardens.
Visit www.beaulieu.co.uk for more information.