Art-lovers flock to the Culloden Estate

More than 12,000 people attended Art In The Garden, the largest sculpture exhibition in Ireland which was held over three weekends at the Culloden Estate and Spa near Belfast recently.

Some 53 exhibits displayed during the event were sold and the hotel itself reports a noticeable increase when compared with the same period last year.

Around 1250 people took curated tours of the exhibition, which was organised by Gormley’s Fine Art and staged in the grounds of the hotel, which overlooks Belfast Lough.

According to Hastings Hotels, which owns the venue, it experienced a 22 per cent increase in revenue during the Art In The Garden event. there was also a 12 per cent increase in revenue at the Cultra Inn on the estate

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 was 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.

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.

Patrick O’Reilly showcased his versatility in unveiling his latest ambitious series, entitled Doll, with two 152cm bronzes sold from this unique series for £30,000.

Howard Hastings, managing director of Hastings Hotels declared the exhibition ‘a tremendous success’ and said that it had been an honour to showcase so many outstanding pieces from some of the world’s best-known artis

A donation from the sale of the exhibition catalogue will be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Our picture above shows Christopher Stone’s Traveller, which was one of the stars of Art In The Garden at the Culloden Estate and Spa.