Sculpture by the Sea is on again in Sydney. Set against the striking backdrop of the coastal walk between Tamarama Beach and Bondi, the annual sculpture exhibition converts the most die-hard critics of modern art into fans. I admit I am not a fan of modern sculpture but Sculpture by the Sea sets out to make world class art accessible and enjoyable to the masses (for masses - read 'me') and it succeeds. It is hard not to be impressed.

Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi is the world's largest free sculpture exhibition, with 500,000 visitors expected during the 18 days in which it is open.  In 2019 there are 111 sculptures exhibited by 140 artists who come from 18 countries.

Sculpture by the Sea 2019

Kore that Awakening by Egor Zigura - Price $20,000

When is it?

The 2019 exhibition runs from 24 October to 10 November.

Where is it?

Sculpture by the Sea is exhibited along the 2 km coastal path between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach in Sydney.  Most of the sculptures are clustered in and around Marks Park, with another cluster at Tamarama Beach but don't miss the others scattered along the coastal path. Some of these have the most impressive sites.

Download a map from the official website here. 

Is it free?

Yes, but catalogues cost $12 and it is well worth having one. You can buy them at various locations including Marks Park and Tamarama Beach. As well as a short biography of each artist and price of the sculpture (just in case you are in the market for a bit of art) there is a statement describing the artist's interpretation of the work.

How do you get there?

Click here for information on public transport. Parking at Bondi is difficult at the best of times and awful during Sculpture by the Sea - just don't do it. The best place to park is around Bronte Beach which is 500 metres south of Tamarama Beach. There is some pay parking in Calga Place and street parking in and around Macpherson St. This adds another 250 metres or so and there is a steep uphill walk on your way back.  We always manage to park somehow, but on weekends it isn't easy.

Is the exhibition accessible to the disabled?

Mark's Park is wheelchair accessible but there are quite a lot of stairs on the rest of the path. For more information see the official website here.

Grace by Tim MacFarlane Reid - Price $24,000

Thru by Katja Grinling - Price $12,500

Life Support by Karl Meyer - Price $78,000

Night Moves by Christabel Wigley - Price $30,000. I loved the way the beach goers are in the background. Sadly, as we were leaving a rope barrier was being erected around the sculpture. It ruined the effect somewhat.

More Than It Seems by Geraldo Zamproni - Price $3,000

Empires Dismantled by Richard Byrnes - Price $8,900

The Statute of Mad Liberty by Wang Kaifang - Price on application

And my personal favourite - for just plain weird!

David and I thought this was a damaged light pole. We even discussed how it must have been hit quite hard, perhaps by a truck delivering one of the larger sculptures. David joked that it might actually be a sculpture. I said no. Then he discovered it in the catalogue.  What do you think?

Lay Down and Shine by Kristof Kintera - Price on application.

If you get a chance to visit Sculpture by the Sea this year, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Unlike some past years I don't think there was a single, stand out, best sculpture. Can anyone forget the melting ice-cream truck from a few years ago?

Save this for later Pin it to Pinterest

Click here to read my other posts on Sydney.

Bondi to Tamarama forms part of a longer walk from Bondi to Coogee. 

If you would like to follow our travels, enter your email address in the 'Never miss a post: Follow by email' box in the right hand side bar just below my profile picture. On a mobile device scroll to the bottom of the page past the comments section and click on 'web version' first.