Feats of Claye – new exhibition by Claye Bowler set to open in Yorkshire

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) opens an ambitious new body of work by Claye Bowler and unveils the artist's largest outdoor sculpture to date.

- By Deborah Hastie Contributor

Commissioned by YSP, Dig Me a Grave opens on Saturday October 4 and is a solo exhibition which explores graves and burial chambers as sites for introspection.

Drawing from his own lived experiences of transness, queerness and disability, Bowler's practice examines how these bodies navigate the world, often existing in spaces of waiting, whether for recognition, medical access, or societal acceptance.

He reclaims the imagery of graves as sites of rest rather than erasure.

Shown in the meditative setting of YSP's 18th century Chapel, Dig Me a Grave offers space for personal reflection, solace, and empathy. The exhibition includes sculptural works made in plaster, latex, stone and metal, some of which visitors are invited to physically interact with.

Bowler hopes this will lead to a deeper sensory and personal engagement, and encourage allyship and reflection on shared human experiences.