Yorkshire Sculpture International

The first Yorkshire Sculpture International, said to be the UK’s largest event celebrating sculpture, will take place from 22nd June to 29th September 2019.

Yorkshire Sculpture International is produced by the Henry Moore Institute, The Hepworth Wakefield, Leeds Art Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The event will feature work by international artists across the four venues, as well as major new outdoor sculpture commissions across public spaces in Leeds and Wakefield, inviting groups to interact with art in unexpected places in the cities.

All elements of the Yorkshire Sculpture International programme will be free to attend, encouraging new audiences to engage with sculpture.

Building upon the region’s rich history as the birthplace and home of sculptors including Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Damien Hirst, Yorkshire Sculpture International will showcase the breadth and diversity of contemporary sculpture practice, inspiring audiences to rethink what they understand the form to be.

Details of what will be displayed and where will be announced closer to the event.

Face of the event

Invited to be the ‘provocateur’ for the first Yorkshire Sculpture International, sculptor Phyllida Barlow proposed a series of thought-provoking statements. The 2019 event will explore one of the most compelling of these - ‘sculpture is the most anthropological of the art forms’ - responding to the idea that there is a basic human impulse to make and connect with objects.

Two of her sculptures are on permanent display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, whilst a collection of her drawings is held in the Leeds Museums & Galleries permanent collection. Groups will be able to see more of her work during the event next year.

For further information visit www.ysculpture.co.uk/ysi

Pictured: Phyllida Barlow's untitled triplestackboulders. (Photo credit: Jonty Wilde).