Breaking the Mould is the first extensive survey of post-war British sculpture by women in a public institution. Neil Walker interviews Senior Curator Natalie Rudd about the exhibition currently showing at Longside Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and touring to the Djanogly Gallery this September.
Spanning more than 70 years and exploring the work of 50 sculptors, this exhibition provides a radical recalibration, addressing the many accounts of British sculpture that have marginalised women or airbrushed their work out of the art historical canon altogether. All of the works in this exhibition have been selected from the Arts Council Collection and highlight the Collection’s long-term commitment to women working in sculpture. Many of the represented artists have challenged ingrained notions of sculpture as a ‘male occupation’ by embracing new materials, subjects and approaches.
Artworks in top image (L to R):
Sarah Lucas, NUD CYCLADIC 7, 2010. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London © the artist. Purchased with the assistance of the Art Fund
Barbara Hepworth, Icon, 1957. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London © Bowness
This performance has been made possible through a grant from the Cultural Recovery Fund from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
