2024 marks 100 years since the birth of Bernard Schottlander, this curation celebrates the anniversary by showing the many sculptures on public display in Milton Keynes.


The new town of Milton Keynes was designated in 1967 and building began in 1970. In 1972 the Milton Keynes Development Corporation commissioned four of Schottlander's most avante garde pieces and placed them like monumental markers in the landscape designated as the new city.


Schottlander bequeathed his set of nine "Dancers" to the city and since 2009 they have been displayed at the Scheduled Monument Site of Bradwell Abbey, site of a 12th century priory.

Artists featured in this Curation: Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
20 artworks
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  • This sculpture was originally sited at Wavendon Tower, the headquarters of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation - the organisation responsible for planning and building the new city. In 1983 it was moved to the city gardens in Central Milton Keynes, now called Fred Roche Gardens after the Corporation's General Manager from 1970-1983.

    2m Series No. 4 1960s
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    2m Series No. 4
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Jane Roblin / Art UK

  • This sculpture was originally sited at Wavendon Tower, the headquarters of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation - the organisation responsible for planning and building the new city. In 1983 it was moved to the city gardens in Central Milton Keynes, now called Fred Roche Gardens after the Corporation's General Manager from 1970-1983.

    3B Series II 1968–1969
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    3B Series II
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Jane Roblin / Art UK

  • This sculpture was originally sited at Wavendon Tower, the headquarters of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation - the organisation responsible for planning and building the new city. In 1983 it was moved to the city gardens in Central Milton Keynes, now called Fred Roche Gardens after the Corporation's General Manager from 1970-1983.

    3B Series V 1966–1968
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    3B Series V
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Jane Roblin / Art UK

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009.

    Evenlode c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 71 x W 162 x D 94 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Evenlode
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009.

    Dancing c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 202 x W 160 x D 99 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Dancing
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009.

    Father of Pearl c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 84 x W 170 x D 102 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Father of Pearl
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. This name for this sculpture has not been found and it is referred to by its colloquial name to distinguish it.

    White Rhino c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 136 x W 175 x D 123 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    White Rhino
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. This name for this sculpture has not been found and it is referred to by its colloquial name to distinguish it.

    Wolfie c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 204 x W 164 x D 110 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Wolfie
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009.

    Calypso c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 61 x W 167 x D 82 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Calypso
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009.

    Somebody, No. 1 c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 84 x W 202 x D 122 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Somebody, No. 1
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009.

    La Marseillaise c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 266 x W 177 x D 99 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    La Marseillaise
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of "Dancer" sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. This name for this sculpture has not been found and it is referred to by its colloquial name to distinguish it.

    Starburst c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 170 x W 165 x D 84 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Starburst
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    Romanesque Pillar c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 128 x W 64 x D 51 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Romanesque Pillar
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    Phone Box c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 137 x W 71 x D 61 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Phone Box
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    Ever-Seeing Eye c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 203 x W 107 x D 20.5 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Ever-Seeing Eye
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    Cubes c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 65 x W 45.5 x D 45.5 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Cubes
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    Aztec Window c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 224 x W 78 x D 62 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Aztec Window
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    Maquette c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 63 x W 24.5 x D 15.5 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Maquette
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    No and No and No c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 109 x W 63 x D 46 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    No and No and No
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • The set of abstract shape sculptures was sited at the City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey in 2009. There is no record of their names, so have been referred to by colloquial names to identify them.

    Sun c.1972
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)
    Painted steel
    H 106 x W 106 x D 20 cm
    Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre
    Sun
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • MS Series 1

    Archive image of MS Series 1 as displayed at Sherwood House, Bletchley in Milton Keynes.


    IMA/CA/1681
    IMA_CA_1681_jpg
    © Milton Keynes Development Corporation. Crown Copyright. Used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. . Image credit: Image from Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • Bernard Schottlander

    Schottlander in his studio with the "Dancer" sculptures.


    IMA/SD/2682
    IMA_SD_2682_jpg
    © Milton Keynes Development Corporation. Crown Copyright. Used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. . Image credit: Image from Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

  • Schottlanders at Bradwell Abbey

    Some of the sculptures on the day they were installed at Bradwell Abbey in 2009.


    DSC05030
    DSC05030_jpg
    © Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre. Image credit: Image from Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre

Explore artists in this Curation

  • 3B Series I
    Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999)