Wirral artist Ben Stephenson has been named the winner of the prestigious Liverpool Sculpture Prize for his compelling new work, Laminae, a striking cylindrical structure created from layers of rammed earth. With a hollow centre that resists easy viewing, the sculpture conjures a sense of mystery and introspection.
Stephenson’s work spans multiple disciplines, often exploring themes at the crossroads of identity, ecology, and history. His practice embraces raw, natural materials to probe humanity’s shifting relationship with the environment, drawing influence from mythology, colonial narratives, and the realities of climate change.
His fascination with rammed earth began during a residency in Mexico, where he encountered the material’s deep cultural and architectural roots. Since then, it has become a foundational element in his artistic approach, valued for its ecological sustainability and longstanding use in vernacular architecture around the world.
For this year’s Liverpool Sculpture Prize, Stephenson has created a piece that is both monumental and transient. Lamina, with its dense, layered form and elusive interior, invites viewers to reflect on time, erosion, and renewal. Installed at Liverpool Parish Church, the sculpture encourages contemplation on the materials and histories that shape both place and identity, resonating with ancient traditions and urgent modern questions alike.
Ben says:
“It’s a huge honour to receive the Liverpool Sculpture Prize. This piece reflects my ongoing interest in the relationship between nature and time; drawing from the vernacular of materials such as earth, clay, and sand to speak of cycles and memory. I’m grateful for the opportunity to create something rooted in the city’s history and environment, and I hope the work connects with those who encounter it in unexpected ways.”
Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company says:
“This is such a stunning work and we are delighted to have it installed for the next twelve months at Liverpool Parish Church. Public art plays such an important role in our cities, and this is such a striking piece which brings a story of nature into the heart of a bustling city. It is such a great opportunity to be able to showcase the best of contemporary art in Liverpool, and it is part and parcel of what makes life in this wondrous place so great”.
Ben’s work was chosen by a panel of judges from the artworld and Liverpool’s business and civic communities from submissions from artists across the UK. The judging panel included; Miranda Lever from Diocese of Liverpool, artist Faith Bebbington, Curator at DuoVision James Lawler, Art critic and writer from the Double Negative Laura Robertson, James Minshull from Taylor Wessing, Joana Rowlands from ACC Liverpool
Liverpool Sculpture Prize, created and managed by Liverpool BID Company and Liverpool Parish Church, is open to any sculptor working and living in the UK.
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