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Tony Cragg at Castle Howard

3 May – 22 September 2024

Striking art in stunning surroundings

This special exhibition by internationally renowned artist Sir Tony Cragg will include several large-scale sculptures in the Gardens, as well as sculptures and works on paper in the historic rooms of the House. 

This is Castle Howard’s first ever headline contemporary sculpture exhibition. Enjoy the artworks set against the backdrop of the beautiful Gardens and landscapes, and inside the magnificent House. Viewing the outdoor sculptures is included in Gardens tickets, and indoor and outdoor sculptures and works on paper is included in House & Gardens tickets.

Children can enjoy a creative art trail around the Grounds as part of the exhibition, plus art and craft activities in the summer holidays.  

 Book admission tickets online and save 10%

Take a tour

Sculpture Tour led by Castle Howard Curators
Indoors and outdoors sculpture is everywhere at Castle Howard. Gigantic busts surround the dome, figures crown the roofline, and statues sit in niches on the front of the house. Join the Castle Howard curatorial team as they explain the history of these collections with an exciting opportunity to view these figures alongside the contemporary work of Tony Cragg. This tour is BSL Interpreted.
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Art Tours led by Exhibition Curators
Take a deeper dive into the Tony Cragg exhibition with this informative tour led by exhibition curators Dr Jon Wood, and Greville Worthington. Learn more about the sculptures and take time to enjoy their placement within Castle Howard’s unique landscape.
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Make the most of your day at Castle Howard

Itinerary ideas for families
  • Pre-book your admission tickets to save 10%.
  • Enjoy the creative art trail around the Grounds and discover Tony Cragg’s sculptures.
  • Finish at Skelf Island, Castle Howard’s award-winning adventure playground, and have fun on the play and climbing equipment. Refuel at the Boathouse Café or Kitchen, with family-friendly refreshments and ice cream.
  • If you’re visiting during the summer holidays enjoy art and craft activities and create your own masterpiece.
  • Stop by the Farm Shop and Gift Shop to collect a souvenir, or locally sourced produce to take home.
Itinerary ideas for art and history enthusiasts
  • Pre-book your House & Gardens admission tickets to save 10%, or deepen your experience visit with a Guided House Tour.
  • Walk through 300-years of history, and enjoy Castle Howard’s extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, and objects, in the main House, alongside Tony Cragg’s sculptures and works on paper.
  • Visit the House Gift Shop and browse books and homewares inspired by the House interiors, and enjoy lunch in the stylish Fitzroy Café.
  • Stroll through the Gardens and visit Cragg’s outdoor sculptures, plus Castle Howard’s intriguing and beautiful follies. 
 
Itinerary ideas for nature lovers
Itinerary ideas for nature lovers
  • Pre-book your admissions tickets to save 10%.
  • Take an extended walk in Castle Howard’s Grounds spotting Cragg sculptures.
  • Start in the 18th century Walled Garden and marvel at the flowers and displays, before visiting the Temple of the Four Winds via the South Lake, and viewing the farmland, New River Bridge and Mausoleum. Explore Ray Wood, jewelled with vibrant rhododendrons in May and June, before emerging at the Boathouse.
  • Take a boat trip to spot wildlife on the Great Lake, running on selected dates in the summer months. Finish your day at the Courtyard and enjoy a seasonal meal in the Courtyard Café, before browsing the Garden Centre. 
 

More about the artworks

The artworks on display will celebrate Cragg’s rich imagination, showing the diverse ways and materials he uses to make sculpture. The artworks are surprising, hybrid forms that challenge our thoughts and emotions.

You can expect interesting shapes, some up to six metres tall, made from different materials including steel, bronze, glass, and wood, with works on paper in the main House.

A catalogue by curator Dr Jon Wood will include an interview with the artist. The catalogue will be available to purchase from Castle Howard’s House Gift Shop and Farm Shop.

More about artist Tony Cragg

Tony Cragg has been working and exhibiting since 1969. He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1988, the prestigious Praemium Imperiale Award, Tokyo in 2007 and the Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award in 2017. He has exhibited extensively in museums worldwide: Tate Gallery, London (1988), Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven and Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Duesseldorf (1989), Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh and Musée du Louvre, Paris (2011), Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg (2013), Von der Heydt-Museum, Wuppertal and Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg (2016) and Boboli Gardens, Florence (2019).

He has lived in Wuppertal, Germany since 1977.

More about Tony Cragg

Tony Cragg at Castle Howard is supported by: