A churchyard in the Somerset countryside has become the unlikely setting for a display of modern art sculptures reaching 7 feet in height, which locals have unflatteringly compared to sex toys. The exhibition, titled Secret Sentinels, consists of three vividly tiled sculptures currently positioned outside the Bo Lee Gallery in Bruton, Somerset, a venue that was once a Methodist chapel.
Local Reactions
The opening of the art installation, which will run until August, has drawn quizzical responses from Bruton residents, who have questioned the inspiration behind artist Clare Burnett's striking creations. Taking to social media, locals likened the figures to adult toys. One resident asked: 'In the night garden meets next generation of sex toys?' Another remarked: 'Bruton's answer to Ann Summers,' referencing the well-known lingerie and adult toy retailer, while a third commented on a 'delivery for the new Victoria Secret's shop opening in the High Street.'
Some villagers with deep family roots in the area predicted that their late relatives would have been displeased. One said: 'My Nan played the piano there on Sundays and was the Sunday school teacher. She would not be amused!' Another added: 'We went to Sunday school back in the late 60s early 70s what ever will they think of next. Come on Bruton.'
Previous Exhibition
This is not the first time the sculptures have attracted attention. The trio was part of London's annual Sculpture in the City exhibition last year, where they were prominently displayed in the Square Mile. Sculpture in the City is a free open-air art exhibition in London. Its 14th edition ran from July 16, 2025, to spring 2026, showcasing 11 artworks from a mix of renowned and emerging artists. The whereabouts of the sculptures, created in 2023, between their display in London and their appearance in Somerset remain unknown.
Gallery and Artist
The gallery, founded by Jemma Hickman, has been based at the converted 19th-century church in Bruton—a village with a population of around 3,000—since 2023. Alongside a collection of photographs of the sculptures, the gallery wrote on Instagram: 'Secret Sentinels by Clare Burnett is a striking family of outdoor sculptures made from found objects and discarded materials. Inspired by the balance between privacy and convenience in the age of surveillance, these shimmering forms subtly echo the cameras that surround us—in city security systems, doorbells, phones, and computers. Each sculpture is made entirely by the artist, from welded internal structures and CAD calculations to attaching over 25,000 tiles by hand.'
