A Place for Artists and Community

Since opening 10 years ago, more than one million people have visited our Somerset art center to experience art exhibitions, events and learning activities, connecting with the local community and landscape.

In Residence

We have welcomed more than 50 artists, curators and writers for residencies in Somerset, from our first artists-in-residence Pipilotti Rist and Björn & Oddur Roth to the latest artist-in-residence Firelei Báez.

On Display

Since the inaugural exhibition by British artist Phyllida Barlow, we have brought more than 250 artists to Somerset to create solo and group exhibitions in our galleries, including ‘Henry Moore. Sharing Form’ in collaboration with the Henry Moore Foundation, ‘Alexander Calder. From The Stony River To The Sky,’ ‘Unconscious Landscape. Works from the Ursula Hauser Collection’ and ‘Eduardo Chillida’ in collaboration with Chillida Leku Museum.

A Space for Learning

Inclusive learning programs and community partnerships have been central to the vision for Somerset from the beginning. Providing a physical space to bring art, artists and diverse audiences closer together, welcoming over 23,000 attendees to learning events since opening.

Oudolf Field

Internationally-renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf created the landscaping scheme for the entire site, including Oudolf Field—a large perennial meadow situated behind the gallery buildings. Carefully shaped and planted, the garden echoes the tradition of classical gardens, but the variety of species and combination of plants creates a looseness, softening the formality of its appearance.  

At the top of Oudolf Field sits the Radić Pavilion. Designed by Chilean architect Smiljan Radić, it was installed at Hauser & Wirth Somerset in March 2015, following its unveiling the previous year as the Serpentine Gallery 2014 Pavilion. 

Conservation

Prior to the gallery opening in 2014, the Grade II listed farm buildings remained derelict for several decades, until they were sensitively restored and renovated by longstanding collaborator and Paris-based architectural firm Laplace, and local architects benjamin+beauchamp.

Surrounding the gallery is a working farm, where alongside herds of cattle and sheep, we have a vineyard, walled garden, beehives and an orchard. The onsite Farm Shop celebrates the best growers, farmers and makers that Somerset has to offer, as well as the produce from the surrounding Durslade Farm.

Roth Bar

Björn and Oddur Roth were some of our first artists-in-residence in Somerset back in 2014, when they worked on creating the bar that formed an integral part of Roth Bar & Grill, the gallery’s on-site restaurant. 10 years later, Oddur Roth returned to the Maltings studio space alongside his team, to reimagine Roth Bar as a new site-specific artwork and fully functioning bar inside the Threshing Barn at Hauser & Wirth Somerset. 

A Model for the Future

Conservation and sustainability are central to our vision and operations in Somerset. In 2022, we hosted our first ‘Sustainability In Action’ conference which initiated conversation and debate around key learnings in relation to the gallery’s climate action plan, with a focus on the decarbonization of our Somerset location and commitment to reduce emissions by at least 50% before 2030.

On view in Somerset

What’s on in Somerset