Jordy Kerwick: One to Give. One to Take Away at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Mythical creatures are making a home in YSP’s Weston Gallery for the next few months, in artworks from the mind and hands of Jordy Kerwick. One to Give. One to Take Away. is the Australian artist’s first UK museum solo exhibition.

The show features a collection of sculptures, large-scale paintings and outdoor works in the park grounds (joining an older one of Kerwick’s pieces – Hydra vs Bear, which has been on display since 2023). The works are all part of a world of myths and legends, filled with unicorns, dragons and saber-toothed cats. His paintings are vivid, with clashing patterns and colours composed around the creatures, which are both baring teeth and carrying bouquets of flowers.

For One to Give. One to Take Away, the artist has created a fictional narrative inspired by the process of renovating his historic property in France, where he lives with his young family. The story suggests that these sculptures have been accidentally found during the renovations in a secret vault, making them mysterious items with a secretive past and an unknown creator.  YSP’s Weston Gallery is, in fact, the perfect venue for this story, acting as something of a secret vault itself, blending with its natural surroundings and suddenly appearing out from the grassy hills.

Although the work carries serious themes, it cannot be denied that these pieces are playful too, with their bright colours and strangely-shaped, relief snake heads. Two-headed animals frequently appear in Kerwick’s work to represent his two children – something of a wink at the viewer, and one that clearly communicates both his sense of humour, and the desire to create something that will appeal to a younger audience too. Visitors can join in family activities throughout the exhibition, such as drawing games and sculpture-building. 

Jordy Kerwick is a self-taught artist, starting less than a decade ago, in 2016. He rose to prominence with pleasant still life paintings, along with some more abstract explorations, leading to various exhibitions around the world. Since then, the artist’s palette has become significantly brighter and his interests shifted towards alternative histories, imagined realms and material exploration. He creates his narratives in a recognisable, childlike style in an attempt to override the limitations set out by the wider art world, but more importantly, by the restrained nature of adulthood. 

One to Give. One to Take Away. is a lively show, full of the energy of the imaginary characters on display, with echoes of classical sculpture, but always true its own, playful core.