Sculpture Exhibition: The London Group

Thursday 9th July, 6:45pm to Saturday 5th September 2026
The Churchyard Garden, St John’s Waterloo

The London Group is delighted to return to Waterloo and St John’s Waterloo with an outdoor sculpture show across the churchyard garden following the theme of “NOW I MAKE A LEAF OF VOICES”.

The theme originates from Walt Whitman’s roaring, elegant poem ‘Voices’ from his celebrated collection ‘Leaves of Grass’ published in 1855. It celebrates polyphony and plurality at the core of the creative expression. It takes the shape of personal and communal voices, expressing emotions, histories and opinions. Voices can soothe, entertain, anger or lead.

‘O what is it in me that makes me tremble so at voices?
Surely, whoever speaks to me in the right voice, him or her I shall follow,
As the water follows the moon, silently, with fluid steps, anywhere around the globe.’
Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

The London Group members and invited artists take inspiration from the theme, combine materials, words and sounds and use the churchyard gardens to raise their ‘sculptural voices’.

Barbara Beyer & Mark Sowden’s ‘The hatter singing as he stands’ inspired by working songs associated with trading and crafting, takes imprints on clay of the churchyard walls to capture the resonant spirit of the daily community life. In Paul Bonomini’s ‘The Singing Ringing Tree’, hundreds of tiny bells hang from the leaf stems, moving gently with the wind. They answer to one another in an ever-shifting chorus, transforming the tree to a living body of voices.

This exhibition carries particular resonance since the Festival of Britain took place 75 years ago, a post-war celebration of creativity and renewal. St John was rebuilt as the Festival’s official church and the London Group organised two massive open submission exhibitions. Once again this summer, we will take the opportunity to unite our voices and celebrate.

This will be The London Group’s sixth sculpture exhibition at St John’s Waterloo as part of the Waterloo Festival.

Opening times:

Open every day* between Thursday 9th July and Monday 1st September 2026.
*Open times dependant on the churchyard’s opening hours as designed and followed by Lambeth Council.

The London Group Exhibiting Artists:

Barbara Beyer, Paul Bonomini, Clive Burton, Paul and Laura Carey, Martin Darbyshire, Stathis Dimitriadis, Alexandra Harley, Aude Hérail Jäger, Anne Leigniel, Jockel Liess (Partial Wave Child), Sumi Perera, Paul Tecklenberg, Marcia Teusink.

Invited Artists:

Andrew Ash, Gillian Brent, Andy D’Cruz, Amanda Francis, Geoixos (Partial Wave Child), Andia Coral Newton, Jessica Palmer, Desa Philippi, Yuko Shiraishi, Mark Sowden, John Wigley, Shotaro Yoshino.

About The London Group:

The London Group was set up in October 1913 by 32 artists including Harold Gilman, Robert Bevan, Jacob Epstein, Duncan Grant, Sylvia Gosse, Wyndham Lewis, Lucien Pissarro, Ethel Sands and Walter Sickert, with the aim of creating a powerful artist-run group to act as a progressive counterbalance to institutions such as the Royal Academy. The founding group created a unique and sustainable organisation, which has gone on to successfully nurture the careers of many of Britain’s best-known artists.

The London Group is a thriving democratic artists’ collective practising in all disciplines, from painting and sculpture to moving image, digital and performance, with a full annual events programme in London and beyond. The Group’s written constitution requires it “to advance public awareness of contemporary visual art by holding exhibitions annually.” Operating in the interstices of existent art institutions, the Group’s focus today is on self-generated exhibitions. Organised and managed by its artist members, these events aim to offer a serious and alternative perspective to contemporary visual arts in Britain.

About The Waterloo Festival:

The Waterloo Festival is an annual celebration of arts, heritage and community run by St John’s Waterloo with the local community. Read more about this year’s programme: www.stjohnswaterloo.org/wf2026

Getting to St John’s Waterloo: St John’s Waterloo is accessible by bus, tube or train; the nearest station is Waterloo Station. Parking is available in Exton Street on pay bays, Monday to Friday from 8.30am till 6.30pm & Saturday 8.30am till 1.30pm. Payment must be made by phone or app, details can be found on signs along Exton Street. After 6.30pm (1pm on Saturday) parking is free within the bays and on single yellow lines. There are no disabled bays along Exton Street. Parking is also available in car parks in York Road and Cornwall Road, details for both can be found online.