At a glance
Rachel Kneebone disrupts the symmetry of historic galleries with white porcelain sculptures that dissolve into clusters of limbs and organic, floral shapes.
Meet the artist
Why go
These nine contemporary works act as physical disruptions, sparking a fresh perspective on the museum's famous Rococo paintings and ornate Sèvres ceramics through shared themes of myth and the body.
You'll see
Fragmented figures · Organic porcelain forms · Mythological themes · New sculptures 'Bower' and 'Temple'
Pace of visit
The intervention is spread throughout the permanent galleries, so viewing the works requires a walk through the museum's historic rooms.
Don't miss
The placement of new works like Bower and Temple directly inside the period rooms alongside the permanent collection.
Artlovers Tip
Pick up a map or follow the trail markers carefully, as the sculptures are tucked away inside the historic rooms rather than grouped together.
Inside the exhibition
Metamorphoses: Porcelain Sculpture by Rachel Kneebone brings contemporary ceramics to The Wallace Collection in London, England. The exhibition places Kneebone's intricate, bone-white sculptures in direct conversation with the venue's dense displays of 18th-century French art.
Nine sculptures are distributed across the museum, including two new large-scale works titled Bower and Temple. The pieces use the medium of porcelain to explore mythological themes and the human form, featuring fragmented limbs and botanical details that echo the decorative motifs found in the surrounding Rococo interiors.
By moving the works out of a dedicated gallery space, the project creates a dialogue between contemporary practice and the museum's historic Sèvres porcelain and paintings by Fragonard and Boucher. It offers a chance to see how Kneebone's fluid, shifting forms respond to the rigid opulence of the Wallace's permanent rooms.
Worth travelling for?
A rewarding visit for sculpture enthusiasts who enjoy seeing contemporary art challenge the atmosphere of a historic house museum.
Experience as an Artlover
Entry to this intervention is included with a visit to the main collection; check the museum website for specific daily opening hours.
Metamorphoses: Porcelain Sculpture by Rachel Kneebone
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