Ancient architecture and contemporary sculpture combine in exciting new exhibition

Ancient architecture and contemporary sculpture combine in an exciting new exhibition of outdoor art at Norwich Cathedral.

Art in the Close will run from September 2025 to Spring 2026 and sees the Cathedral Close become the inspirational setting for a mix of works by artists Lynn Chadwick and John Maine.

The free open-air exhibition is planned to be the first in a new rolling programme of art at the Cathedral and gives visitors the chance to enjoy discovering works in three different areas of the Close.

Lynn Chadwick’s angular steel work Sitting Figures, 1989, can be spotted in the Lower Close. The Cloister hosts two of John Maine’s striking stone works, with a further seven abstract sculptures by the artist on display in Almary Green, near the main entrance to the Cathedral Close at the Ethelbert Gate.

The exhibition is the idea of The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, who hopes hosting contemporary art in the historic setting will inspire visitors old and new alike and continue the Cathedral’s rich history of celebrating the arts.

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, said: “From its foundation in 1096, Norwich Cathedral has been a place that celebrates the arts and creativity. The Cathedral itself is a place of international cultural significance, offering a rich treasure trove of artistic work from architecture and sculpture to embroidery, paintings and glass, as well as its outstanding musical heritage.

“The launch of Art in the Close marks the next phase in this long tradition. The Cathedral Close will provide the inspiring setting for a rolling programme of contemporary sculpture that will enrich the experience of all who come here, inviting engagement and reflection. I am delighted that works by Lynn Chadwick and John Maine feature in the launch of this new programme.

“In the conjunction of art, space and Cathedral we are invited to see life through fresh eyes, just as the Cathedral itself invites us to nurture a sense of wonder in a place where heaven and earth come close.”

John Maine RA, who is a member of Norwich Cathedral’s Fabric Advisory Committee, said: “I have come to know the Cathedral well over recent years and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to explore it further through my sculpture.

“Norwich combines an ancient monastic tradition with contemporary life, and art can reflect both aspects. With this in mind, I have set out a collection of related sculptures that punctuate the spaces on a human scale, rather than displaying a single monumental piece.

“The distance between these works is part of their story: the space around a sculpture is integral.”

Among John Maine’s sculptures on display is Pinnacle, 2018. Carved from blue Brazilian granite and standing proud in the Cloister Garth, its vertical form echoes the Cathedral’s own soaring spire.

Meanwhile Definition in Five Parts is a quintet of geometric granite works that draws people to explore the Cloister’s east walk. Seven more stone works, positioned within specially mown paths in the grassland of Almary Green, create a unique installation all of their own next to the Ethelbert Gate.

Juxtaposed with the stone of John Maine’s sculptures is the stainless steel silhouette of Lynn Chadwick’s Sitting Figures, 1989, on loan from the Estate of Lynn Chadwick. The impressive, angular sculpture of the seated couple can be found between the trees in the Lower Close, with its metallic surfaces glinting in the sun and playing with light and shadow.

Together all of these works form the first incarnation of Art in the Close, the Cathedral’s new outdoor art programme aiming to celebrate creativity and inspire visitors old and new by presenting thought-provoking contemporary works in the historic setting.

Art in the Close opened on Monday 1 September 2025 and will run until Spring 2026 in Norwich Cathedral’s Close.

The exhibition is free for all to explore. A £2 Art in the Close guide is available for purchase from the Cathedral Shop.

The Dean and Chapter gratefully acknowledge the generous support and encouragement that has enabled the launch of Art in the Close. In particular thanks are due to John Maine RA, Southern & Partners – Artist Management, the Estate of Lynn Chadwick, and members of the Norwich Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee and the Norwich Cathedral Exhibitions Panel.

About John Maine RA

Born in Bristol in 1942, John Maine RA attended the West of England College of Art from 1960 to 1964 (NDD and sculpture special) and studied sculpture at the Royal College of Art from 1964 to 1967 (M.Art.) He held the first fellowship at Cheltenham School of Art from 1967 to 1969, and then he set up his own studio and taught as a part time tutor, assessor and visitor to a wide range of art schools including the Royal College of Art from 1970 to 1990.

His first major exhibition was at the Serpentine Gallery in 1972, and he was included in several exhibitions at the Hayward gallery and South Bank centre. Following his solo exhibition in 1978 at the newly formed Yorkshire Sculpture Park, he was awarded the first fellowship there for two years. In 1981 he worked for three months in Japan, following the Hagi Symposium. He returned to undertake further commissions in Japan and travelled widely including working in Australia, Italy, India, China and Vietnam (2010). Permanent works can be seen Canberra, Bhopal, Hagi Yamaguchi, Ryugasaki Iberaki, Hue and Shanghai.

Examples of his sculpture and drawing are in many public collections in UK and abroad, including The Royal Collection, Arts Council Collection, British Council, The British Museum and the Government Art Collection, National Gallery of Victoria.

He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1996.

For more information, visit www.johnmaine.co.uk

About Lynn Chadwick (1914-2003)

After initially training in architecture, Lynn Chadwick went on to become one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century.

He won the International Prize for Sculptureat the Venice Biennale of 1956, becoming the youngest ever recipient of this prestigious prize. His career went on to span five decades. In 1964, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year’s honours.

Working primarily in bronze or stainless steel, Chadwick’s semi-abstract sculptures are held in the collections of MoMA in New York, the Tate in London and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

A series of three Beast stainless steel sculptures by Lynn Chadwick are currently on display at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts Sculpture Park: Crouching Beast II, Beast Alerted I and Lion I, 1990.

Sitting Figures, 1989, is one of the few works in stainless steel where Chadwick explores one of his favourite motifs: the seated couple. Throughout his practice, Chadwick was deeply concerned with human relationships, and with conveying certain attitudes and emotions through the positioning of forms and the space between them.

Lynn Chadwick passed away in 2003, the same year Tate Britain devoted a major retrospective to his work.

For more information, visit www.lynnchadwick.org

Pictures: Bill Smith