Turner-nominated sculpture artist to host new exhibition at Houghton Hall

Sean Scully will take over the historic house between King’s Lynn and Fakenham later this year

Sean Scully's sculpture 'Crate of Air'
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 15th Feb 2023
Last updated 15th Feb 2023

Turner Prize nominated artist Sean Scully is to take over Houghton Hall, between King's Lynn and Fakenham, for a major exhibition over the next several months.

A range of the artists' sculptures will be shown in the grounds of the historic hall, while paintings will also be shown inside the house.

Several new works will be included in the exhibition including stacks made of sandstone, wood, glass and marble.

Scully's sculpture 'Glass Stack'

The sculptures range in scale from small models to monumental open structures in steel such as Crate of Air and a new Wall of Light sculpture constructed from locally sourced limestone.

Sean Scully said: "England, as we’ve seen from the fabulous paintings by Constable, is a country very informed by sky.

"People talk about the sky all the time. They talk about the weather, or the clouds, the wet. So, it’s a source of inspiration.

"When you put sculptures outside, you are aware that the sky is illuminating them, and conditioning how they look. Whatever you put out there is always humbled by the bigness of the sky."

Houghton Hall

Lord Cholmondeley, owner of Houghton Hall, said: '' As a long-time admirer of Sean Scully's work, I feel extremely proud to be able to bring this major exhibition to Houghton."

"Scully's paintings and sculptures often evoke landscape and architecture, and will look sensational against the backdrop of the house.''

Houghton Hall was built in the 1720s for Britain's first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole.

Sean Scully at Houghton Hall - Smaller Than The Sky will open on 23 April 2023 and run until 29 October.

More information can be found here.

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