The Roof Gardens, in partnership with the Royal Society of Sculptors, invites Members to submit proposals for a curated outdoor sculpture exhibition set within one of London’s most celebrated elevated garden spaces. This special members’ showcase will present ambitious, outdoor sculptures in the extraordinary environment of The Roof Gardens.

About The Roof Gardens – A Brief History

The Roof Gardens is a historic private members club and rooftop destination in Kensington, offering restaurants, bars, gardens, and exclusive events.

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.

This exhibition continues that creative legacy by bringing contemporary sculptural practice into a setting where history, horticulture, and architecture meet.

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About the Exhibition

Selected works will be displayed throughout the gardens for an exhibition running from May to October 2026 (end date is tbc).

We request that the work be completed and in the UK at the time of application.

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Eligibility

This open call is exclusively for current Royal Society of Sculptors Members

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What We Are Seeking - We welcome sculptures that:

•  Demonstrate innovation, craftsmanship, and material sensitivity

• Are durable, weather-resistant, and safe for an unsupervised public environment

• Enhance the visitor experience within the unique rooftop landscape

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Submission Requirements

Applicants are welcome to submit up to 5 works for consideration and must provide the following:

• Name and contact details

• Up to 5 primary work images with details, description, and install requirements.

• The option to add up to 12 additional images to offer different vantage points of the proposed artworks.

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Applicants are asked to consider the following while submitting work and providing details:

•   The weight limit of the goods lift is 2000kg

•   The dimension restriction of the goods lift is 180 x 200 x 200cm

• Works must be able to stand safely without deep ground / wall anchors

• Suitable outdoor plinths must be provided with the artworks – these must meet the weight/dimension limitations listed above.

• The Royal Society of Sculptors will take a 30% commission on any sales made during the exhibition.

• We request that the work be completed and in the UK at the time of application.
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How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via CuratorSpace.

Please complete the application form and upload all required materials through the CuratorSpace listing.

No email submissions will be accepted.

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Key Dates

• Submission deadline: 9 am, Monday 16 March 2026

• Notification of selected artists: week commencing 23 March 2026

• Artwork collection and Installation: week commencing 18 May 2026

• Exhibition opening event: Wednesday 20 May 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

• Exhibition period: Thursday 21 May – Sunday 18 October 2026

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Support Provided

Exhibiting Royal Society of Sculptors Members will receive:

•  Promotion via the Roof Gardens and Royal Society of Sculptors channels

•  Professional photography of the installed works.

•  Transport and installation costs for the artworks will be covered by The Roof Gardens, up to a maximum of £500 per artwork.
This allocation includes transport to The Roof Gardens, installation on site, deinstallation of the work, and return transport from The Roof Gardens.
Any costs exceeding this £500 allocation will be the responsibility of the artist.

•  Temporary membership to The Roof Gardens for the duration of the exhibition.

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Selection will be made by:

Aurore Ankarcrona Hennessey and Nick Hornby 

Aurore Ankarcrona Hennessey is Curator at The Roof Gardens and works as an independent Art Director and Curator. From 2023–2025, she was Artistic Director of Ladbroke Hall, leading its cultural programming, patron strategy and creative partnerships across the site, home to Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the award-winning Pollini and the Sunbeam Theatre.

Previously, as Director of Art at The Arts Club (2015–2023), she curated over 30 events annually, hosting leading artists and cultural figures, while overseeing the Club’s permanent collection and exhibitions programme. She also advised on the launch of The Arts Club Dubai and conceived the Club’s annual Frieze Art Fair party in partnership with the Evening Standard.

Hennessey serves on the Executive Committee of Association of Women in the Arts and is former Co-Chair of Tate Young Patrons, holding a seat on the Tate Executive Committee. She began her career at CNN in New York and later worked at Hiltzik Strategies, advising high-profile figures and organisations across media and the arts.

She holds a BA (Hons) in History of Art from University College London.

Nick Hornby is a London-based artist known for large-scale public commissions that explore the legacy of monuments, historical critique, and identity. A Fellow and Trustee of the Royal Society of Sculptors, he was awarded the 2024 PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture. 

Employing experimental digital technologies to produce materially traditional works in resin, bronze, steel, granite and marble, Hornby’s practice reconsiders the language of public art. In 2023, he unveiled three major public commissions in London, each engaging critically with the core tropes of the equestrian, the memorial and the abstract.

He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and Chelsea College of Arts, and has exhibited at Tate Britain, Southbank Centre and the Fitzwilliam Museum, among others, as well as internationally at the Museum of Arts and Design and the Poznan Biennale. His work has been widely reviewed and a major monograph has been published by Anomie Publishing.

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Unfortunately, due to the number of submissions we receive feedback will not be given at this stage.

No submissions via email will be accepted. 

Submissions are welcomed from all Royal Society of Sculptors members. For your submission to be accepted, your 2026 annual membership fee must be paid in full by the submission deadline or an existing quarterly direct debit be in place.