Farewell To All That – Peter Eugene Ball’s final exhibition

Over the course of an extensive career, sculptor Peter Eugene Ball’s work has become an intrinsic part of our spiritual landscape. His final exhibition, Farewell to All That, opens at Southwell Minster on Sunday 8 August and will feature more than 50 new works for sale. They will include Hawton Madonna, carved from a 14th-century beam removed from the belfry floor of a local church during recent refurbishments, a life-size Julian of Norwich and a large Ship of Fools, one of Peter’s favourite subjects. Other works, both secular and religious, feature acrobats and dancers, pilgrims and mermaids.

Peter is no stranger to the Minster, his majestic Christus Rex was installed high above the nave in 1987, becoming a focus for contemplation and worship. Three more sculptures followed, as well as several major exhibitions. Peter explains, ‘for me, Southwell Minster is the perfect setting for my final show’.

The Very Reverend Nicola Sullivan, Dean of Southwell, says, ‘we are honoured to be hosting Farewell to All That. It is fitting to welcome Peter back home to his very own Cathedral for his final full-scale exhibition. His distinguished work has inspired and delighted visitors and pilgrims over the years. We all need to gaze on things of beauty, imagination and mystery as part of our healing as we recover from the pandemic. We hope many will come to enjoy this very special exhibition in the Minster’s recently  restored, magnificent 13th-century Chapter House.’