Burning Man Comes To Chatsworth in a UK First for the Monumental Sculpture Event

The Flybrary by Christina Sporrong. © Christina Sporrong.

Huge sculptures from Burning Man, held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, USA will be making their UK debut at Chatsworth this spring at an ambitious and free-to-access exhibition in the Derbyshire estate’s parkland, it has been announced.

Radical Horizons: The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth is a large-scale exhibition in the publicly accessible 1000 acre park surrounding the house, which sees 12 monumental sculptures from Burning Man, going on display in the UK for the first time from 9th April to 1st October.

Lodestar by Randy Polumbo. © Randy Polumbo © Espresso Buzz Photo.

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, said: “The sculptures in the park continue the great tradition of the estate as a backdrop for contemporary works. We very much hope that visitors find inspiration here in this special place.”

Wings of Glory by Adrian Landon. © Adrian Landon.

The Art of Burning Man at Chatsworth

The ambitious sculpture exhibition is designed to celebrate a shared culture of making and collaboration. Burning Man is a unique event that usually takes place annually in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, USA, and Chatsworth has worked with the Burning Man team and artists to bring its distinctive culture of possibility and creativity to the Derbyshire landscape.



Chatsworth and Burning Man were introduced by Sotheby’s, who saw a synergy between the two organisations in their commitments to creativity and community.

C2 The Flybrary by Christina Sporrong and Murder Inc by Charles Gadeken. © Christina Sporrong and Charles Gadeken © Photography by Tex Allen.

The exhibition features eight existing sculptures and four works built on site, including three new participatory sculptures that will be created in the parkland with the help of visitors and local community groups over the course of the year, mirroring the build process at Burning Man that sees teams of volunteers gathering in the desert to create new artworks.

Le Attrata by Margaret Long and Orion. © Margaret Long and Orion Fredericks © Photography by LadyBee 2016.

Free to access and enjoy for all, the exhibition also benefits from a dedicated engagement programme working with communities of people who generally find Chatsworth hard to access, offering activities designed to leave a legacy of creative possibility and new connections with people.

Le Attrata by Margaret Long and Orion. © Margaret Long and Orion Fredericks © Photography by Meike Gugel.

Kim Cook, Director of Creative Initiatives at Burning Man, said: “We’ve come to understand Chatsworth as a place to foster innovation, creativity, thoughtfulness and thinkers since its early days, something that is also central to our work and ethos at Burning Man. Our hope is that the art in the landscape will provoke joy, new ways of viewing, and be an invitation to make up your own story about meaning as you explore the beautiful expanse of Chatsworth.”

For more information, go to chatsworth.org/events/burning-man

Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP

T: 01246 565300

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