Waddesdon Manor in the UK has launched the 2026 edition of its Art in Nature program, featuring a monumental 70-meter mandala created by land artists James Brunt and Jon Foreman of Sculpt the World. The collaborative work, made with support from Mark Ford and Eric Ford, draws inspiration from the manor's architecture and surrounding landscape, using natural materials like leaves, stones, and branches. The program runs until May 31 and includes workshops, talks, and participatory making sessions with artists such as Rebecca and Mark Ford of Two Circles Design, Tim Pugh, Ana Castilho, Richard Shilling, Julia Brooklyn, and disability activist Sam Cleasby.
The program matters because it exemplifies a growing trend in environmental and land art that emphasizes ephemerality and ecological awareness, inviting visitors to engage with nature as both material and collaborator. By blurring the line between art, landscape, and collective experience, Art in Nature highlights the role of historic estates like Waddesdon Manor in fostering contemporary artistic practice and sustainability dialogue, while also making art accessible through direct participation.