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The Last Blast of Fresh Air
Fresh Air Sculpture was launched in 1992 by Lucy Abel Smith and her late husband David as a biennial exhibition celebrating contemporary art in the beautiful riverside setting of their garden at the Quenington Old Rectory near Cirencester.
Now, Lucy and the Trustees have decided that the 17th show, Fresh Air Sculpture 2026, is to be the last.
“What a celebration it shall be! We shall be inviting many of those who have shown since the early days to return. There will also be new artists’ work on view too. Art has always been at the heart of what we do at The Old Rectory and everyone will be welcome at this celebration.” Lucy
Looking to the future, The Quenington Sculpture Trust will continue to fund bursaries for tutors and creatives, focussing on makers and designers in the applied and decorative arts which are most under threat from cuts in schools and colleges.
Fresh Air Sculpture is a biennial sculpture exhibition held in the expansive organic garden of The Old Rectory in the Cotswold village of Quenington. The show affords a unique opportunity to see a creative mixture of traditional, modern and cutting-edge sculpture in this stunning outdoor setting. The Old Rectory gardens offer vast lawns joined by a bridge over the River Coln. There are hidden walkways, delightful pergolas, stunning flower beds and impressive vegetable gardens and greenhouses.
Fresh Air Sculpture gathers over 130 contemporary pieces of outside sculpture together in this tranquil setting, many of which have been created specifically for the gardens. The excitement of Fresh Air Sculpture is the huge diversity of materials exploring a variety of media: from stone to textiles, ceramic to glass, sound to video, mosaic to metals, rubber to resin. Monumental pieces sit alongside smaller works to suit every size of garden or outdoor space.
The Pool House is converted into a modern gallery shop showcasing the best in contemporary design and craft – glass, textiles, leather, jewellery, ceramics and more.
All work is available to buy at the show and commissions are welcome.
All outdoor sculpture is available to view by artist online and an enquiry can be submitted.
Tickets for Fresh Air Sculpture 2026 will be available online from February 2026.
Tickets can also be bought at the gate on your arrival.