This September, The Sherborne will present *The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness*, a landmark installation by acclaimed British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové.

Thirteen monumental figures, each standing more than two metres tall, will arrive in The Sherborne’s historic garden for a year-long presentation opening on Friday 11 September 2026.
The installation will bring one of Ové’s most significant works into a remarkable new setting. Its relationship with the garden will emerge as the installation takes shape, creating an entirely new presentation of a work that has already travelled internationally.
For now, we can reveal that the arrival of these thirteen extraordinary figures will mark a major moment in The Sherborne’s growing contemporary arts programme.

About the installation

The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness explores identity, visibility, power, resilience and belonging. Its title draws together Ralph Ellison’s influential novel Invisible Man and Ben Jonson’s Jacobean court entertainment The Masque of Blackness, first performed in 1605.

Ové’s practice is deeply influenced by African and Trinidadian traditions of masking and masquerade. Working across sculpture, film and photography, he considers the histories and experiences of the African diaspora through repetition, mythology and collective presence.

The installation was first presented at Somerset House in 2016, where forty figures filled the courtyard as part of the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Since then, the work has travelled internationally, taking on new meaning in each landscape and architectural setting it inhabits.

A new setting at The Sherborne

At The Sherborne, thirteen figures will be presented within the grounds of a Grade I listed Georgian house, bringing contemporary sculpture into dialogue with the history and landscape of this remarkable place.

The installation is co-curated by Liz Gilmore, CEO of The Sherborne, and Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fry, former Chair of The Sherborne House Trust. Further details about this new presentation and the ideas behind it will be shared as the opening approaches.

The arrival of The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness reflects The Sherborne’s ambition to bring locally and nationally significant cultural experiences to the South West. The installation will remain in the garden for a full year, including throughout Sherborne’s time as Dorset Town of Culture in 2027.

From 7 September, visitors will be able to experience Zak Ové’s extraordinary work at The Sherborne, with free admission throughout its year-long presentation.

Zak Ové: The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness opens in The Sherborne’s garden on Friday 11 September 2026 and continues until 10 September 2027. Entry is free and no advance booking is required.

Discover more and plan your visit