DECENNIUM at Hestercombe Gallery

In May 2014, Hestercombe House and its contemporary galleries opened to the public for the very first time, reuniting the house with its famous period gardens. The gallery programme ambitiously planned to bring artists with national and international profiles to Somerset, deliver residencies and curate original shows that linked to, and were inspired by, the landscapes that surround it.

During this time Hestercombe has engaged and shown the work of over 400 artists, from Turner Prize winners to those emerging from art schools, through 38 gallery and garden exhibitions. The programme has engaged with families, students of all ages, local audiences and community groups, and has been featured as one of the ‘10 best rural art galleries in the UK’ to visit.

This exhibition reflects on a decade of making and showing through the work of over twenty artists. Showcasing some of the contemporary artworks acquired for the Hestercombe House and Gardens Collection, now a UK accredited museum, alongside new and recent works by other artists that have previously shown at Hestercombe. Decennium features diverse landscape themes through a range of media including film, painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and collage.

Artists include Tania Kovats, who held the first solo exhibition at Hestercombe in 2014; Helen Sear, who, in 2018, showed works made for the Venice Biennale where she represented Wales; Simon Faithfull, whose 2019 exhibition ‘Elsewhen‘, explored Hestercombe’s place on the earth. Alex Hartley, Liz Nicol and Oliver Sutherland who in 2018 responded to the architecture of Sir Edwin Lutyens, are all featured.

Artists in residence have been an important element to the cultural life and programme of Hestercombe. Here ten are represented, including the very first resident Jo Lathwood, who literally lived in the house and made work from her gallery studio; the organisation's important long-term collaboration and engagement with Philippa Lawrence, Sarah Bennett and Megan Calver. Feral Practice’s investigation into species that live on the estate, to Trish Morrissey’s recreation of past female owners.

Artists featured include: Tania Kovats, Helen Sear, Simon Faithfull, Alex Hartley, Mariele Neudecker, Philippa Lawrence, Sarah Bennett, Trish Morrissey, Susan Derges, John Newling, Feral Practice, Brendan Barry, Sophy Rickett, Liz Nicol, Jo Lathwood, Lucy Soni, Fiona Hingston, Simon Bayliss, Rebecca Partridge, Megan Calver and Gabrielle Hoad.

Dates & Tickets

DECENNIUM is showing at Hestercombe Gallery from 23rd March 2024 until 7th July 2024.

Entry is by gardens admission only.

Hestercombe Gallery is open daily from 11am - 4pm.