Houghton Hall in Norfolk will host a major exhibition, including specially commissioned new works, by the internationally celebrated British sculptor, Richard Long. The exhibition Richard Long: EARTH SKY opens on 30 April and runs until 26 October 2017. This is the first Richard Long exhibition ever to present outdoor works in the landscape.

Richard Long is one of the most influential figures of conceptual and land art, part of a generation of distinguished British artists who extended the possibilities of sculpture beyond traditional materials and method. His work is rooted in his deep affinity and engagement with nature.

The artist’s new works in the grounds of Houghton Hall use a variety of materials, including local Carr stone, flint from East Anglia, tree stumps from the Estate, as well as slate from Cornwall. They accompany the permanent Long sculpture, Full Moon Circle, which was commissioned for Houghton in 2003. There will also be large mud works in the outdoor colonnades, and smaller-scale works in gallery spaces, as well as historic material relating to the artist’s career. 

The exhibition is curated by Lorcan O’Neill in association with the artist. It will be accompanied by a specially-produced catalogue with an essay by Rudi Fuchs (former director of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam) and an interview with the artist.

The show will be the largest since Long’s retrospective at the Tate in 2009, and will be a unique opportunity to see new site-specific works set within the historic landscape and gardens at Houghton, alongside permanent artworks by a range of contemporary artists, including James Turrell, Zhan Wang, Jeppe Hein, Stephen Cox, Rachel Whiteread, Anya Gallaccio and Phillip King.

Lord Cholmondeley said: “I am delighted that such an important exhibition of Richard Long’s work will be presented at Houghton including many new works. My hope is that in time Houghton will become a ‘must-see’ destination for those interested in contemporary art and sculpture.”