Members-only
About the prize
The Kensington Roof Gardens invited Members and Fellows of the Society to submit proposals for a curated outdoor sculpture exhibition set within one of London’s most celebrated elevated garden spaces. This special members’ showcase would present ambitious, outdoor sculptures in the extraordinary environment of the Roof Gardens.
Perched 100 feet above Kensington High Street, the Roof Gardens were created in 1936 by landscape architect Ralph Hancock, commissioned by the Derry & Toms department store.Covering 1.5 acres, they remain one of Europe’s largest and most imaginative roof gardens—an ambitious union of engineering, horticulture, and architectural fantasy. Now Grade II listed, the Roof Gardens have long been a site of innovation and cultural activity, evolving from their 1930s department-store origins to become one of London’s most extraordinary green spaces. Please note only artworks that are already fully realised at the time of submission will be considered.
Opening 21 May 2026, Sculpture Above Ground brings together nine contemporary sculptors 100 feet above the streets of Kensington, on view until October 2026.
The result of a new partnership between the Roof Gardens and the Royal Society of Sculptors, the exhibition includes large - scale works by Richard Hudson MRSS and Emily Young FRSS, a major display of portrait busts by Nicole Farhi CBE MRSS, and a restaging of a significant work by Michael Petry FRSS, originally conceived for the Palm Springs Art Museum. Additional artists include Laura Ford, President of the Royal Society of Sculptors, alongside Sarah Pager MRSS, Andrew Sabin FRSS, and Richard Stone FRSS, with William Braithwaite MRSS, recently included in the 2026 New Contemporaries. Several works will be presented publicly for the first time and all works will be available for sale.
At The Roof Gardens, works are situated among pathways, planting, and water, creating a journey through the space for members and guests. At Dora House, the presentation extends the exhibition’s themes into a second setting open to the public. Together, the two venues establish a dialogue between site and sculpture across London.
Click here to read the full press release.
