The first UK presentation of Nancy Holt's work, titled "MoonSunStarEarthSkyWater," opens at the Goodwood Art Foundation in Sussex from 2 May to 1 November 2026. The exhibition includes both a gallery-based show and works in the landscape, featuring key pieces such as the monumental site-responsive installation "Ventilation System" (1985-92) and the earthwork "Hydra's Head" (1974). The show aims to highlight Holt's exploration of perception, language, and light, and includes works from her diverse practice spanning concrete poetry, film, photography, and public sculpture.
This exhibition matters because it helps to elevate Nancy Holt's legacy beyond the shadow of her partner Robert Smithson, asserting her significance as a pioneering land artist. Holt's work has historically been under-exhibited due to the difficulty of showing land art in galleries, and this presentation offers a rare opportunity to experience her site-responsive works in both indoor and outdoor settings. It also underscores ongoing efforts to reassess and celebrate the contributions of female artists within the land art movement.