Published: 19 May 2026
Discover Julie Brook’s monumental slate sculpture at Holker Hall & Gardens
Hidden within the ancient deer park at Holker Hall & Gardens lies one of Cumbria’s most remarkable contemporary artworks — Out of the Ground, a Thread of Air by acclaimed British land artist Julie Brook.
Constructed from hundreds of tonnes of locally quarried Cumbrian slate supplied by Burlington Stone, the sculpture rises unexpectedly from the landscape like a geological formation that has always belonged to the land itself.
But this is far more than something to simply look at.
Julie Brook’s sculpture is designed to be walked on, climbed and experienced — drawing visitors physically into the landscape and geology of Cumbria.
A sculpture that emerges from the landscape
At first glance, Out of the Ground, a Thread of Air appears almost natural. Its sweeping slate form mirrors the contours, colours and textures of the surrounding Cumbrian landscape, sitting quietly within Holker’s historic parkland.
Only as you approach does its scale begin to reveal itself.
Built from more than 400 tonnes of Cumbrian slate, the sculpture stretches across the ground in a dramatic linear form, incorporating 27 ascending steps that invite visitors upwards through the structure.
The experience changes constantly depending on where you stand. From a distance it can resemble an ancient earthwork or exposed geological seam. Up close, the craftsmanship and engineering become apparent, with carefully laid slate courses creating rhythm, movement and texture throughout the piece.
The result is both monumental and deeply connected to place — a sculpture that feels inseparable from the land around it.
The connection between Holker Hall and Burlington Stone
The sculpture also represents a unique connection between Holker Hall & Gardens and Burlington Stone — two organisations linked through the wider Holker estate and a shared South Cumbrian heritage.
For generations, Burlington Stone has quarried indigenous Cumbrian slate from the Lake District fells, supplying stone used on some of Britain’s most iconic buildings. That same heritage material forms the fabric of Julie Brook’s sculpture.
The use of locally quarried Burlington slate gives Out of the Ground, a Thread of Air a powerful sense of authenticity and permanence. The sculpture is not simply inspired by Cumbria — it is physically made from the geology of Cumbria itself.
Placed within Holker’s historic landscape, the artwork creates a dialogue between the natural environment, regional industry, heritage craftsmanship and contemporary art.
It also reflects a long-standing relationship between landscape stewardship and the materials that have shaped the character of the Lake District for centuries.
Who is Julie Brook?
Julie Brook is internationally recognised for creating large-scale environmental artworks that respond directly to landscape, geology and natural forces.
Her work often takes place in remote and elemental locations, from volcanic landscapes to deserts, coastlines and tidal environments. Rather than imposing artworks onto landscapes, Brook’s approach is rooted in working with the character and materials of a place itself.
That philosophy sits at the heart of Out of the Ground, a Thread of Air.
The sculpture was created specifically for Holker’s deer park using indigenous Cumbrian slate — a material that has shaped the architectural and cultural identity of the Lake District for centuries.
For visitors searching for Julie Brook sculptures, land art in Cumbria or contemporary environmental art in the Lake District, Holker offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the artist’s most ambitious public works in a landscape setting.
Why was the sculpture created?
The sculpture explores the relationship between landscape, geology, time and human interaction with the land.
Slate is deeply woven into Cumbria’s identity. For generations it has been quarried from the fells and used in buildings throughout Britain, becoming part of the visual language of the Lake District itself.
By using locally quarried slate from Burlington Stone, Julie Brook connects the sculpture directly to this regional heritage.
The work also reflects the tension between permanence and change.
Although monumental in scale, the sculpture appears to emerge organically from the earth, almost as though uncovered rather than built. Visitors become part of the artwork as they walk through and across it, experiencing changing perspectives of the surrounding landscape with every step.
In many ways, Out of the Ground, a Thread of Air blurs the boundary between sculpture, landscape and architecture.
Remarkable features of the sculpture
- Built from over 400 tonnes of Cumbrian slate
- Designed to be climbed
- Rooted in Cumbria’s geology
- Different in every season
- A meeting of art, landscape and engineering
Visiting the Julie Brook sculpture at Holker Hall & Gardens
Visitors to Holker Hall & Gardens can encounter Out of the Ground, a Thread of Air as part of a wider exploration of Holker’s historic parkland and gardens.
Set against the backdrop of ancient trees, open deer park and the wider South Cumbrian landscape, the sculpture offers a striking contrast between contemporary art and timeless landscape.
Whether you are interested in sculpture, geology, architecture, land art or simply discovering something unexpected during a walk through the grounds, Julie Brook’s installation has become one of Holker’s most distinctive and talked-about features.