Wild Uplands transforms Penistone Hill into open-air gallery for Bradford 2025
Wild Uplands, a collection of public artworks, will be showcased at Penistone Hill Country Park in Bradford from May 24 to October 12, 2025, as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Featured artists include Meherunnisa Asad, who will create pink marble butterflies symbolizing migration; Vanessa da Silva, who will design 5-meter interactive sculptures inspired by local flora; Monira Al Qadiri, who will delve into the 1917 Cottingley Fairies hoax through her sculptures; and Steve Messam, who plans to construct a 10-meter tower covered in local sheep fleece. Additionally, an immersive sound walk titled Earth & Sky will utilize geolocation to activate sounds from various composers and poetry by Nabeelah Hafeez. The initiative is curated by Shanaz Gulzar and backed by multiple organizations.
Key facts
- Wild Uplands runs from 24 May to 12 October 2025 at Penistone Hill Country Park, Bradford.
- Four artists created new public art installations: Meherunnisa Asad with Studio Lél, Vanessa da Silva, Monira Al Qadiri, and Steve Messam.
- Meherunnisa Asad's installation uses pink marble butterflies from Pakistan, inspired by migration.
- Vanessa da Silva's 5-metre-high interactive sculptures are inspired by local plants.
- Monira Al Qadiri's work references the 1917 Cottingley Fairies hoax.
- Steve Messam's 10-metre tower is clad in fleece from local sheep breeds.
- Earth & Sky sound walk features composers Caterina Barbieri, Nyokabi Kariũki, and Gwen Siôn, with poetry by Nabeelah Hafeez and music by Frederick Delius.
- Wild Uplands is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Yorkshire Water, Natural England, British Council, The Linbury Trust, and the Henry Moore Foundation.
Entities
Artists
- Meherunnisa Asad
- Vanessa da Silva
- Monira Al Qadiri
- Steve Messam
- Caterina Barbieri
- Nyokabi Kariũki
- Gwen Siôn
- Nabeelah Hafeez
- Frederick Delius
- Shanaz Gulzar
Institutions
- Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
- Studio Lél
- Opera North
- Orchestra of Opera North
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund
- Yorkshire Water
- Natural England
- British Council
- The Linbury Trust
- Henry Moore Foundation
- The Delius Trust
Locations
- Penistone Hill Country Park
- Bradford
- United Kingdom
- North Pennines
- Haworth
- Pakistan
- Peshawar
- Brazil
- London
- Berlin
- Kenya
- Wales
- Italy