Art In The Garden – the largest sculpture exhibition held in Ireland – has proved to be a massive success with 53 works sold over 16 days at the Culloden Estate and Spa in Belfast.
Over 12,000 people attended the Gormleys Fine Art exhibition which was held over three weekends in the grounds of the 12-acre estate overlooking Belfast Lough. Described by the organisers as a perfect collaboration between fine art and a high-end hotel, over 1,250 people availed of curated guided tours of the exhibition in the Culloden Hotel and Estate.
During Art In The Garden, the Culloden Estate and Spa experienced a 22 per cent increase in revenue compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, The Cultra Inn on the Estate saw a 12 per cent increase in business and served 1,171 lunches and 1,096 dinners during the period.
Art In The Garden featured a large collection of contemporary sculptures, as well as 14 pieces from the Dali Universe in Switzerland, and paintings, drawings and original screenprints by world-renowned names and top Irish artists. Inside the hotel there were also rooms devoted to Warhol and street artist Banksy as well as a Modern Masters Collection in the Ailsa Suite featuring Picasso, Miro and Lucien Freud.
This followed on from a very successful showing at Russborough House in Wicklow, which broke previous attendance records for the estate. Nine Bob Quinn sculptures sold between the two shows, with the Sanctuary edition of four selling out at £32,000 for the impressive 134 x 135 x 62 bronze.
Christopher Stone’s Traveller was one of the stars of the Culloden show, with the 150 x 100 x 90cm bronze with accelerated Verdigris patina selling for £26,000. Meanwhile, Patrick O’Reilly showcased his versatility in unveiling his latest ambitious series, entitled Doll. Two 152cm bronzes sold from this unique series for £30,000 in Belfast.
Highlights from the Russborough exhibition included the sale of seven Dali works and Orla De Bri’s spectacular Stag.
“This was a fantastic collaboration. At any one time at the weekends there were over 300 people in attendance from all over Ireland,” said Oliver Gormley, Managing Director of Gormleys Fine Art, in a statement. “We are already preparing our plans for 2019 and considering a number of venues in the Dublin area.
“Art In The Garden has to be properly curated and match the expectation of knowledgeable buyers. We will always endeavour to show the very best of Irish and international sculpture, and each Art In The Garden exhibition will be entirely fresh.”
Part of the Art In The Garden exhibition will remain at the Culloden Estate permanently. Meanwhile, a donation from the sale of the exhibition catalogue will be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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