Sculpture in the Garden, a Unique Conversation Starter

Commissioning a Piece

You may discover someone whose work you admire by visiting gardening shows, dropping in at an artist’s studio open day or checking sculpture and land art websites. Commissioning a piece gives you an opportunity to put something unique and perfect in your garden, and is now more possible than ever thanks to more affordable alternatives to traditional sculpture materials - reconstituted stone, ceramics and driftwood to name a few. Here are a few tips for making your dream a reality, and keep it that way: Help the artist to visualize what you have in mind with rough sketches and photographs and, if possible, a site visit for them. Get a contract that states the design, its dimensions and materials, cost and delivery date. Protect your piece by placing it out of sight of passers-by and adding it to your home insurance.

Half-hidden by foliage, this weathered terra-cotta torso appears to grow out of the landscape, and would be a fraction of the cost of a bronze piece.