Architectures of Infestation: Students transform Turrill Sculpture Garden

Our Art & Design students have scaled up their creations with Architectures of Infestation, a bold new outdoor exhibition at the Turrill Sculpture Garden in Summertown. Open from the 7th March - 25th April 2026, the show features imaginative sculptural works created by our Level 1 Creative Industries and Art & Design Foundation Diploma students.

The exhibition transforms the garden into a curious and playful landscape filled with giant insects and ceramic watchtowers. Level 1 students drew inspiration from specimens at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, magnifying tiny bugs into bold three-foot-long sculptures. Using wire, Modroc, plaster and paint, they created oversized creatures that invite visitors to look again at the often-overlooked world of creepy-crawlies.

Alongside them, Foundation Art & Design students present a series of hand-built ceramic watchtowers inspired by the idea of the panopticon. Ranging from architectural to abstract forms, these sculptural towers explore how architecture can watch, control and shape behaviour, standing quietly among the garden’s greenery.

Together, the works create a thought-provoking environment where insects roam and towers observe, encouraging visitors to reconsider the relationship between nature, people and the structures we build.

This exhibition is just one of many opportunities for our Art & Design students to showcase their work in public exhibitions and gain real-world creative experience. Our supportive, studio-based course help aspiring artists explore a wide range of disciplines, from sculpture and printmaking to photography, fashion and spatial design, while building a strong portfolio for university or creative careers.

Thinking about a future in the creative industries? Discover how our Art & Design courses can help you develop your skills, find your direction, and take the next step in your artistic journey.