If you love a good deal – or even a freebie – and also love art and sculpture, London already has plenty to offer you. What with the many museums, galleries, and public artworks dotted around the city, you can hardly move without finding yet another free art exhibition or display. And now that Sculpture In The City has returned for its 13th edition, London has transformed into a sculptural treasure hunt, with a wealth of spellbinding, free art to find.
A bunch of completely free-to-view artworks (they are outdoors after all!) have dropped down in London’s financial district. They make for a wonderful day out wandering around, trying to spot them all. When the weather’s nice it combines the two experiences of being able to enjoy a museum and basking in the sunshine at the same time. Plus, thanks to their varied locations, there’s even an element of a scavenger hunt thrown into the mix.
For this year’s edition of Sculpture In The City, 17 works are on display from 15 artists from all around the world. These artworks can be found all around Central London, and include a range of previous pieces, permanent artworks, and all-new sculptures.
As you wander around the city you’ll find ten new sculptures by Samuel Ross, Richard Mackness, Ida Ekblad, Julian Opie, Clare Burnett, Seph Li, Maya Rose Edwards, Hilary Jack, and Daniel Silver. Previous sculpture-hunters may also recognise the five works from previous years, as well as the two permanent artworks.
What is Sculpture In The City?
What started in 2011 with just four artworks has snowballed into an impressive display of sculptures all around the city. Ever since, each year the City of London partners with local London businesses to display a brand new selection of public artworks from internationally acclaimed and emerging contemporary artists. These pieces pop up everywhere, from Aldgate to Monument, Fenchurch Street, and Liverpool Street station, and bring London’s public spaces to life.
Over 13 years, Sculpture In The City has displayed 162 artworks from 137 artists for everyone to enjoy. They transform the city into an open-air gallery and a wonderful celebration of art.
Said Wendy Hyde, Chair of Sculpture in the City:
“The 13th Edition of Sculpture in the City is an absolute must-see, inviting you to explore a selection of 17 splendid artworks within the streets and public spaces of the Square Mile. Sculpture in the City has something for everyone with incredible installations, a fun filled family trail map and unique activation experiences. As the oldest part of London, that never stays the same, there’s a new story to uncover in the City every time you visit.”
Artworks on display
The new sculptures for 2024 include the interactive Kissing Gate by Maya Rose Edwards (Aldgate Square) and Richard Macness’ Temple (99 Bishopsgate). The former is a playful piece that brings a rural kissing gate into an urban setting. The latter, meanwhile, transforms a humble paper bag into an immense shrine. Over at 120 Fenchurch Street, Steph Li’s Everything Before, Everything After enchants viewers with a “meandering river rendered in Chinese ink painting style”.
Returning from previous years is Jesse Pollock’s The Granary (Cunard Place). This piece “renders a traditional English grain store in pearlescent candy orange”. Victor Lim Seaward’s Nest Series (99 Bishopsgate) of organic sculptures have also been hidden among the trees again this year.
Among the permanent installations, you’ll find Elisa Artesero’s The Garden of Floating Words (70 St Mary Axe). This neon-rendered poem appears to float in the darkness, surrounded by the foliage of a garden.
Still to come for Sculpture In The City
Not all of the artworks are currently on show, with four of them still to be unveiled in September. These include Hilary Jack’s Deluge, a text-based LED installation at The Leadenhall Building that reflects on the climate crisis, and two new sculptures from Daniel Silver comprise “‘collages’ of stone and bronze heads on pieces of Michelangelo marble”.
Sculpture In The City will be on display throughout the City of London until the spring of 2025. That’s plenty of time to find ALL of the artwork. Happy sculpture hunting!
Sculpture in the City is completely free to visit and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Find out more at the Sculpture In The City website.