20 to 28 September 2025
London Sculpture Week, the capital’s annual celebration of public sculpture, returned this autumn for its fourth edition. From 20 to 28 September 2025, the city was transformed into an open-air gallery, offering the public a rare chance to learn more about exceptional outdoor contemporary sculpture and hear directly from artists and curators about the stories and context behind the artworks.
The Canvas led by David Rosenberg Sculpture in the City 14th Edition, London Sculpture Week, 24 September 2025. Courtesy Eastern City BID. Photo © Mickey LF Lee.
Bringing together five major public art initiatives, Frieze Sculpture, Sculpture in the City, The Line, the Fourth Plinth and public art across East Bank, London Sculpture Week is the only citywide initiative dedicated to celebrating public sculpture across the capital. The week-long programme included both free and ticketed events, highlighting the power of sculpture to invigorate public spaces and invite dialogue. Audiences had the opportunity to experience world class outdoor artworks and hear directly from the artists and curators behind them.
Programme highlights included free themed tours of Sculpture in the City’s 14th edition, exploring topics such as the autumn solstice with artist Oliver Bragg, and the intersection of archaeology, mythology, and contemporary art with artist duo Jane and Louise Wilson.
As part of The Sculpture Switch, a collaborative exchange between Frieze Sculpture and Sculpture in the City, artist Lucía Pizzani, featured in this year’s Frieze Sculpture, led a tour of Sculpture in the City, while Vanessa da Silva, whose works have previously been exhibited at both Sculpture in the City and Frieze Sculpture, guided visitors through this year’s edition of Frieze Sculpture.
In the City of London, Sculpture in the City’s 14th edition brings contemporary sculpture into the Square Mile, with works by artists such as Ai Weiwei, Andrew Sabin, and Jane and Louise Wilson.
During London Sculpture Week, visitors joined a special tour with David Rosenberg, Director of Velorose Gallery, exploring the relationship between art and the idea of the canvas. Following the tour and a competition, three participants were selected to become the canvas by choosing one of three free permanent tattoo designs inspired by works in the exhibition.
Architect and Art Guide Martin Glover returned for another year to lead a free BSL guided walking tour. Martin is a Deaf BSL user, an architect and art facilitator and offered an unmissable opportunity for tour attendees to experience the 14th edition collection of artworks, discovering world-class public art across the City of London’s iconic urban and architectural landscape.
Bloomberg Connects returned as London Sculpture Week's Official Digital Guide. Explore now on Bloomberg Connects.
26 September 2025 / Sculpting the Future: Memory, Imagination and the Public Realm
London Sculpture Week culminated with the second London Sculpture Week Symposium on Friday 26th September with an engaging afternoon of dialogue, creativity and critical exploration.
The symposium covered the challenges of placemaking and the long-term ambitions of curatorial and civic projects. It explored how public identity, social engagement and curatorial innovation respond to these pressures, while imagining how new possibilities can emerge from past successes.
Discussions were guided by five key themes: Imagination, Ambition, Necessity, Experience and Building the New. Speakers included: Fatoş Üstek (Frieze Sculpture), Stella Ioannou (Sculpture in the City), Sarah Carrington (The Line) and Jo Baxendale (GLA).
The sessions were moderated by Jacek Ludwig Scarso (CREATURE [Research Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement] at London Metropolitan University)
Also included were artist presentations by Maria Lisogorskaya and Mary Anderson (Assemble) and Saad Qureshi with a Keynote response by Gus Casely-Hayford (Director, V&A East)
Organised by London Sculpture Week Partners – Fourth Plinth and East Bank by the Mayor of London, Frieze Sculpture, Sculpture in the City and The Line – and generously hosted by The Warburg Institute in collaboration with CREATURE (Research Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement) at London Metropolitan University with Bloomberg Connects as London Sculpture Week’s Official Digital Partner. Listen to recordings of all speakers from the London Sculpture Week Symposium on Bloomberg Connects digital guide.
London Sculpture Week, Sculpting the Future, Memory, Imagination and the Public Realm, 26 September 2025. Photos © Jennifer Moyes Photography
Reflecting the cultural richness of London, London Sculpture Week celebrates the transformative power of public art in the city. It highlights the role of sculpture in enriching daily life, fostering connection between people and their environments, and encouraging a deeper appreciation of art in the public realm.
“We’re thrilled to be celebrating London Sculpture Week for a fourth year, highlighting outstanding public sculpture across the capital. Public art has the power to inspire, transform urban spaces, and spark conversations, and London Sculpture Week brings this to life through a diverse mix of artworks and settings. From the heart of the Square Mile to parks and riverside trails, each project offers a unique opportunity to experience contemporary art in dialogue with the city. This year, Sculpture in the City is proud to contribute with events including a collaborative tour with Frieze Sculpture and free artist-led events inviting visitors to experience the city through sculpture in new ways.”
Stella Ioannou, Artistic Director of Sculpture in the City & Founding Director of LACUNA.
Sculpture in the City 14th Edition's contribution to London Sculpture Week, is supported by Activation Partner, EC BID – the Business Improvement District for the Eastern City.
