A Hammersmith art shipping specialist has managed the import of sculptures from around the world for an exhibition showcasing the finalists of the London Sculpture Prize 2026.
Founded by sculptor Isabel H Langtry, Principal of Hampstead School of Art, a registered charity, the London Sculpture Prize is an international award that celebrates contemporary sculpture. Sculptures are selected from an open call by a panel of international guest judges, who are themselves sculpture specialists.
The First Prize winner receives £5,000, with additional £1,000 prizes awarded on the night by industry partners including INNO drinks, PACK & SEND and Sir Frank and Lady Rachel Scott Bowling.
From studio to gallery
PACK & SEND London Hammersmith worked directly with eight artists taking part in the competition, coordinating the transport of their pieces to its premises before unpacking each sculpture and personally delivering it to the exhibition venue. Alongside managing the shipments, the Hammersmith team provided all the necessary export documentation, including templates for Certificates of Authenticity.
The sculptors supported by the centre are Philip Spelman, Michel Dufresne, Sabine Seum, Jan Eric Visser, Jess Wallace, Juan Carlos Alvarez Flores, Ben Barbour and Charis Smith. Their works include Spelman’s steel sculpture Cyan Forest, Dufresne’s alabaster piece Entassement I, Flores’ metal and cement piece Character and Smith’s marble piece To Be a Duck.
Alexander Ifidon of PACK & SEND London Hammersmith said: “At PACK & SEND we’re proud to be one of the world’s most trusted companies for the safe transport of fine art. Across our network of centres, we have packed and shipped artworks by some of the world’s most famous artists, including Banksy, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin and Jeff Koons. We are also an approved service provider to LAPADA, the largest association of professional art and antiques dealers in the UK.
“The entries for this year’s competition are all magnificent, and we are honoured to have been entrusted with bringing these incredible pieces to London. It was crucial to us that artists would feel confident about every stage of the journey.
“We managed the imports and documentation, then unpacked the works ourselves and personally delivered them to the exhibition. That individual attention is an important part of our service, particularly for sculptors sending their work from overseas.”
Visit the exhibition
The Finalists’ Exhibition takes place at Gunnersbury Park Museum from 18 to 22 November, following a private view and award ceremony on 17 November. The public exhibition is open from 10am to 4.30pm daily.
