Sculpture at The Mount

Set against the verdant background of Edith Wharton’s historic estate, Sculpture at The Mount is an annual exhibition highlighting works of contemporary outdoor sculpture in a range of media. The 2026 exhibition will be on view May – October. Sculpture at The Mount is free and open to the public, dawn to dusk.

Kathy Ruttenberg, In Sync (2018)

2026 Call for Art

The Mount is accepting submissions to Sculpture at The Mount, a juried exhibition of 20-25 artworks installed throughout the woods, gardens, and grounds of Edith Wharton’s historic estate.

Dates: Sunday, May 24 – Saturday, October 24, 2026

Theme: The 2026 Sculpture at The Mount exhibition will celebrate the theme of FLOURISH, showcasing artwork that conveys connection, growth, hope, flora and fauna, resilience, and the ways that a community thrives by bringing people together. Responding to this theme, artists are invited to share how sculpture can unite, elicit hope, illustrate a sense of growth or a thriving environment, encourage interdependence, and foster connection. Artists are welcome to creatively interpret what FLOURISH means to them via the medium, subject matter, and form of their choice.

About the Exhibition: Sculpture at The Mount is fully outdoors and is free and open to the public. Given the extent of The Mount’s grounds, we recommend that submissions are large-scale (at least 3 ft. in width or height). Artists must ensure all materials – from the artwork itself to installation materials – will be appropriate for the outdoors and able to withstand all types of weather, including extreme heat, direct sunlight, heavy rain, and high-speed winds. The artwork may not pose any harm to the public and will not cause permanent damage to The Mount or its surrounding landscape. The Mount will assist in the installation and deinstallation process and will provide a crane as necessary.

Timeline:

Applications Open: November 15, 2025
Application Deadline: February 2, 2026
Finalists Notified: March 1, 2026
Installation: May 18-20, 2026
Meet the Artists Open House Celebration: June 28, 2026
Deinstallation: October 26-28, 2026

Review Process & Selection Criteria: Applications will be reviewed by a jury comprised of staff and trustees of The Mount, professional artists, and special guest juror Jess Wilcox, an independent curator with a focus on sculpture, ecocritical, and public art and a member of the River Valley Arts Collective.

Honorarium: A $1,000 honorarium will be awarded to each accepted artist. Sculptures may be offered for sale with 70% of the sale price going to the artist, and a 30% commission going to The Mount.

Artists may submit multiple sculptures for consideration — Please submit a separate application for each sculpture. If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, please contact Sculpture@EdithWharton.org

TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION, please paste the answer to the questions below in an email; send to: Sculpture@EdithWharton.org and use the subject line 2026 Sculpture at The Mount.

Application Questions

1.) Your information

Name:
Email:
Address:
Telephone:
Website:

2.) Sculpture Information

Existing or Proposed Sculpture?:
Artwork Title:
Medium:
Dimensions (H x W x D):
Weight:

3.) Describe the installation of your sculpture
Please include the sculpture’s footprint in square feet, any requirement to remove sod/turf, the material of the base if applicable, as well as how it is secured to the ground to ensure stability. Does this installation require any special equipment? Please outline any important information regarding your installation that the jury should know.

4.) Does your artwork require power?

5) Does the installation of your sculpture require a crane?

6) Attach Artist Biography/CV

7) Attach Project Statement responding to “Flourish” theme (up to 500 words)

8.) Attach supporting images or provide a link

9.) (Respond “Yes”) If selected, I understand that Sculpture at The Mount is a free, outdoor exhibition that is open to the public daily, dawn to dusk. All materials – from the artwork itself to installation materials – will be appropriate for the outdoors and able to withstand all types of weather, including extreme heat, direct sunlight, heavy rain, and high-speed winds. The artwork may not pose any harm to the public and will not cause permanent damage to The Mount or its surrounding landscape.

10.) (Respond “Yes”) If selected, I understand that I am responsible for the full installation and deinstallation of my artwork, and I will provide all materials needed for installation and deinstallation. Installation Dates: May 18-20; Deinstallation Dates: October 26-28.

11.) (Respond “Yes”) If selected, I understand The Mount will have permission to use images of my artwork for publicity, promotional, and educational purposes related to the 2026 Sculpture at The Mount and future Sculpture at The Mount exhibitions.

“There is great synergy between Wharton's literary legacy and the compelling narratives expressed through contemporary sculpture. Sculpture at The Mount offers visitors the opportunity to explore the intersection of literature, sculpture, and nature."

Susan WisslerThe Mount's Executive Director