Largest European Collection By Women Artists Opens At Historic Compton Verney

22.03.2024 - 01:19 / forbes.com / Art

Compton Verney, a stately home turned art museum in Warwickshire, is set in 120 acres of Grade II listed classical parkland, designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, the most eminent landscape architect of the eighteenth-century. The property also houses the only Capability Brown designed chapel. In 1993, Sir Peter Moores, through the Peter Moores Foundation (PMF) bought the site, including the near-derelict mansion, and gifted it to the specially-created charitable trust Compton Verney House Trust (CVHT). Since then, Compton Verney has been welcoming visitors to its wide range of exhibitions, events and grounds, and this year it celebrates the 20th anniversary with the launch of its first ever sculpture trail and a number of ambitious exhibitions across its six galleries.

Sculpture in the Park opens this week and runs until 2027. The glorious grounds of Compton Verney host works by eight contemporary artists drawn from around the world, including an important new commission. The grounds provide a unique landscape for artists to showcase their work; over 120 acres laid out by “Capability” Brown in 1768, featuring oak, ash and lime trees, wildflower meadows, a lake, bridges and plenty of wildlife.

The grouping of the sculptures is inspired by the history and setting yet also challenges the notion of the 18th century landscape design as a form of utopia. The sculptures are from leading UK-based artists such as Sarah Lucas, who often uses ordinary objects to challenge sex, class and gender. Permindar Kaur uses domestic items to question the meaning of ”home”, and British-Ghanian artist Larry Achiampong’s stunning series of flags with colors representing all the African countries, high on a hill, focuses on Pan African, future histories, speculative fiction and identity, both personal and communal.

Work from international artists includes London-based French artist Nicolas Deshayes who explores organic and synthetic texture through his work, and Lithuanian artist Augustus Serapinas, who draws on his country’s history and culture to produce works made from found material and borrowed objects.

Two legendary figures in sculpture are also part of the park. A spider sculpture from the late French artist Louise Bourgeois guards the lawn near the house. Complementing this, from July until 6 October, there will be an extensive Louise Bourgeois exhibition in the galleries. Turner Prize-nominated British artist Helen Chadwick‘s intriguing group of twelve white enamelled bronze, Piss Flowers, makes a striking installation on the other side.

And, for the first commission for the sculpture park, Brazilian artist Erika Verzutti has created a new bronze work as part of her long standing Venus series which references the