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Where to see art outdoors: Sculpture parks and art gardens to visit now

Joana Vasconcelos, Gateway, 2019.

Art and the great outdoors – have you ever known a better pairing? Head to these venues to see art in the open air, in dramatic garden and parkland settings.

From Barbara Hepworth to Damien Hirst, artists have long been making work inspired by the great outdoors – and the great outdoors is the perfect place to see it.

Featuring sculpture by legendary artists including Elisabeth Frink, Antony Gormley and many more, these gardens and sculpture parks present work that's intended to be at one with nature, perfect for a wander in the fresh air.

Why not plan a visit to see these impressive structures for yourself. And if you have a National Art Pass, you'll get fantastic benefits at all of these locations.

01
Alec Finlay, A Variety of Cultures, 2016

Jupiter Artland

A former nominee for Art Fund Museum of the Year, Jupiter Artland is home to over 30 permanent sculptures created especially for this dramatic location by artists including Phyllida Barlow, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor and Cornelia Parker. Set across 100 acres of meadow and woodland, this gorgeous open-air art space just outside of Edinburgh is the ideal location for a breath of fresh air.

02
Barbara Hepworth Museum exterior

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden

Formerly known as Trewyn Studio, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is the former home of this celebrated sculptor. She lived and worked here with her husband, fellow artist Ben Nicholson and their young family from 1949 until her death in 1975. The real highlight here is seeing her spectacular bronze sculptures, many of which remain in the positions the artist herself placed them in. The museum is tucked away in the creative Cornish town of St Ives, so you can combine a trip to this unique space with a visit to Tate St Ives or a wander on the beach.

03
Writ in Water, a major architectural artwork by Mark Wallinger, in collaboration with Studio Octopi, provides a new immersive space for contemplation and reflection at Runnymede, Surrey. Writ in Water is open seven days a week from Saturday 16 June 2018 and is free to enter. Over 800 years ago, Runnymede witnessed the feudal barons forcing King John to seal Magna Carta - a founding moment in shaping the basis of common law across the world. Writ in Water, commissioned by the National Trust in association with arts producers Situations, celebrates the enduring significance of Magna Carta. 
Set in the heart of this ancient landscape, Writ in Water reflects upon the founding principles of democracy, and through a meeting of water, sky and light, provides visitors with a space for reflection and contemplation. Mark Wallinger has drawn inspiration from Clause 39 of Magna Carta and the fundamental principles of justice it embodies.
Mark Wallinger, Writ in Water, 2015, Runnymede, National Trust, Art Funded 2017, Photo: National Trust Images / Andrew Butler

Runnymede and Ankerwycke

In the grounds of Runnymede you'll find a striking architectural landmark by Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Wallinger. Writ in Water explores the powerful message of Clause 39 of Magna Carta (which was sealed at this site): the importance of the rule of law. Made using materials drawn from the surrounding area, Writ in Water offers a tranquil place of reflection and contemplation: step inside and you'll find the principles of the clause written around a pool, to be read from the water’s surface.

04
The Hepworth Wakefield Garden - Summer (31st July 2020)
The Hepworth Wakefield gardens and exterior

The Hepworth Wakefield

The beautiful gardens of the Hepworth Wakefield are scattered with sculptures by leading artists including Barbara Hepworth and Rebecca Warren. Highlights include a striking yellow pitchfork by conceptual artist Michael Craig-Martin, which appears like a 'drawing in the air' against the flowers' colourful backdrop, and Dancing Figures (1956), by celebrated post-war sculptor Lynn Chadwick, which references the ‘Teddy Boy’ youth movement of the mid-1950s. The vibrant gardens are planted in the distinctive style of landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith.

05
The Whitworth, Manchester, 2016

The Whitworth

If you’re out for a wander in Whitworth Park, you might notice what appears to be a tree made of mirrors. Constructed in stainless steel, this majestic sculpture by Anya Gallaccio reinstates a fallen ancient tree in a man-made form, and explores ideas of loss, memory and presence. The Whitworth art gallery is right in the heart of the park and there are plenty of other dazzling works to explore outside, including Nathan Coley’s text-based work, Gathering of Strangers, which stands poignantly above the gallery’s park entrance.

06
Barbara Hepworth's, The Family of Man, 1970 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Home to over 100 stunning modern sculptures, Yorkshire Sculpture Park combines art with the striking landscape of the 18th-century Bretton Estate just outside of Wakefield. The open-air collection includes multiple works by artist and activist Ai Weiwei, notably Alfredo Jaar: The Garden of Good and Evil, a constructed cage suspended ominously in the lake. Other artists whose work graces the grounds includes Anya Gallaccio, Barbara Hepworth, Damien Hirst and Elisabeth Frink.

07
Sainsbury Centre sculpture park

Sainsbury Centre

The hundreds of acres of parkland at this fantastic Norfolk art gallery are home to both a large population of wild rabbits and a collection of striking sculptures. Works by artists including Henry Moore and Liliane Lijn, wildflowers and ancient oaks provide the backdrop for the stunning urban architecture of the gallery building itself.

08
Henry Moore Studios and Gardens, Henry Moore, 'Double Oval' 1966. Art Map 2020

Henry Moore Studios & Gardens

For inspiring views of the work of renowned sculptor, Henry Moore, the gardens at the studio are littered with fine examples of his work. Demonstrating the artist’s versatile skill, from large-scale outdoor sculptures to small maquettes, the gardens at his former home are perfect for a creatively fuelled stroll outdoors.

09

Burghley House

Running annually from April to October, in landscape designer Capability Brown's 'lost' lower gardens, Burghley House’s renowned sculpture exhibitions show a mixture of works which often take their inspiration from the house and gardens. Explore fantastic sculpture alongside pretty wildflowers, a charming icehouse and expansive lake, all in Burghley's vast grounds.

10
Blenheim Palace, aerial exterior. Art Map 2020

Blenheim Palace

The gorgeous grounds of Blenheim Palace are home to a monumental sculpture by Ai Weiwei entitled Gilded Cage (2017), which explores the powerful theme of living as a refugee. Whilst catching a glimpse of this work you can also wander the extensive gardens and woodland, plus pop in to the magnificent house.

IndividualTiana Clarke Please note this is an example card and not a reflection of the final product

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