Several works by Nicholson and Henry Moore were displayed alongside the next generation of British Sculptors, Robert Adams, Kenneth Armitage, Reg Butler, Lyn Chadwick, F McWilliam, Bernard Meadows, Eduardo Paolozzi, Thornton, William Turnbull and Austin Wright. Most significantly it was the year that Nicholson won first prize at the biennial.

The works exhibited at the British pavilion were selected by a stellar selection committee, including Sir Phillp Hendy, Director Of The National Gallery and President of the British Arts Council; Roland Penrose, co-founder and Chairman of the ICA, London; Herbert Read, co-founder and President of the ICA; Sir John Rothenstein, Director of Tate Gallery, London; and Lillian Somerville director of Fine Arts at the British Council. Herbert Read wrote a catalogue essay for the official catalogue: https://issuu.com/bienal/docs/namedb4cb4 (see p. 229 onwards).

Nicholson stayed at Torre del Grillo, Piazza del Grillo, Rome on two occasions in 1954 and 1955 as the guest of Jenny Nicholson, the eldest child of Robert Graves and Nancy Nicholson.