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Breaking the Mould: Sculpture by Women since 1945

Wednesday, May 18

26 Mar 2022 – 05 Jun 2022

Open Tuesdays to Sundays and Bank Holidays from 10am-5pm

An Arts Council Collection Touring Exhibition, delivered by The Box and The Arts Institute, University of Plymouth partnership.

A major touring exhibition, which challenges the male-dominated narratives of post-war British sculpture, ‘Breaking the Mould’ presents a diverse and significant range of post-war British sculpture by women. Spanning more than 70 years and exploring the work of over 40 sculptors, this exhibition provides a radical recalibration, addressing the many accounts of British sculpture that have marginalised women or airbrushed their work from art history altogether.

All the works in this exhibition have been selected from the Arts Council Collection and highlight its long-term commitment to women working in sculpture, as well as the strength and diversity of a wide range of practitioners.

Icon, 1957 by Barbara Hepworth. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London © Bowness

Many of the represented artists in ‘Breaking The Mould’ have challenged ingrained notions of sculpture as a ‘male occupation’ by embracing new materials, subjects and approaches.

The exhibition is arranged into three thematic sections: Figured and Formed which can be seen in St Luke’s at The Box and Found which can be seen in The Levinsky Gallery at the University of Plymouth. Each section highlights a range of shared concerns that emerge across time, space and material.

Featured artists
St Luke’s: Anthea Alley; Phyllida Barlow, Rana Begum; Helen Chadwick; Alice Channer; Lygia Clark; Shelagh Cluett; Katie Cuddon; Sokari Douglas Camp; Frink; Elisabeth Frink; Katherine Gili; Mona Hatoum; Jann Haworth; Holly Hendry; Barbara Hepworth; Shirazeh Houshiary; Karin Jonzen; Permindar Kaur; Mary Kelly; Liliane Lijn; Kim Lim; Gillian Lowndes; Sarah Lucas; Mary Martin; Cathy De Monchaux; Lucia Nogueira; Margaret Organ; Kathy Prendergast; Eva Rothschild; Meg Rutherford; Grace Schwindt; Wendy Taylor; Shelagh Wakely; Rebecca Warren; Alison Wilding; Rosemary Young.

The Levinsky Gallery: Phyllida Barlow; Alice Channer; Susan Collis; Jane Coyle; Rose Finn-Kelcey; Jessie Flood-Paddock; Anya Gallacccio; Anthea Hamilton; Helen Marten; Emma Park; Cornelia Parker; Amalia Pica; Veronica Ryan; Hayley Tomkins; Rachel Whiteread.

Image credits
Header image (left) – Inversion, 1970 by Wendy Taylor. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London © the artist.
Header image (right) – NUD CYCLADIC 7, 2010 by Sarah Lucas. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London © the artist. Purchased with the assistance of Art Fund.
Event image – Icon, 1957 by Barbara Hepworth. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London © Bowness.

Upcoming events

Tuesday, December 5
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Theatre Royal Plymouth presents the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Pins and Needles production of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas. Adapted by Pins and Needles.
Tuesday, December 5
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New documentary System Update is a call to action to face the stark reality of climate change, and find a path towards hope.
Wednesday, December 6
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Wednesday, December 6
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Theatre Royal Plymouth presents the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Pins and Needles production of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas. Adapted by Pins and Needles.

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