Lynn Chadwick's Post-War Sculpture Celebrated at Houghton Hall

Houghton Hall in Norfolk is hosting a major exhibition of works by British sculptor Lynn Chadwick (1914-2003), running from 2 May to 4 October 2026. The exhibition, organized by the Houghton Arts Foundation, features sculptures scattered across the estate's grounds and inside the Hall itself. Chadwick, who began as an architectural draughtsman, gained prominence after winning the International Prize for Sculpture at the 1956 Venice Biennale, beating Alberto Giacometti and becoming the youngest artist ever to receive the award. The show includes iconic pieces such as 'Jubilee IV' (1985), 'Large Barley Fork' (1975) shown publicly for the first time, 'Three Elektras' (1969), and the kinetic 'Ace of Diamonds III' (1986-1996), his final work. A small introductory exhibition in the south wing gallery presents archival photographs, drawings, and maquettes, illustrating Chadwick's working process of constructing metal armatures filled and scraped to create rough surfaces. The exhibition also highlights Chadwick's later technique of cladding structural frameworks with stainless steel, seen in works like 'Howling Beast I' (1990) and 'Sitting Couple on Bench' (1990). Lord Cholmondeley noted that since the annual exhibition program began in 2015, visitor numbers have doubled, reflecting a trend among historic estates to use contemporary art to attract new audiences.