The seven artists shortlisted for the next Fourth Plinth commissions in 2026 and 2028 have been announced. Chila Kumari Singh Burman; Gabriel Chaile; Ruth Ewan; Thomas J Price; Veronica Ryan; Tschabalala Self and Andra Ursuţa have created maquettes of their proposed artworks which are on display at the National Gallery until 17 March 2024.
The Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square is one of the most important art commissions worldwide, putting new work by internationally renowned artists into the heart of London. This year marks 25 years since the first work, Ecce Homo by Mark Wallinger, was unveiled in 1999. 14 works have been displayed on the iconic site to date, with Samson Kambalu’s Antelope currently in situ.
The shortlisted proposals are:
- The Smile You Send Returns to You by Chila Burman. The work tells of her father’s voyage to the UK from India on the HMS Battory. At the centre of the sculpture is her father’s ice cream van The Rocket, which is a recurring motif in Burman’s work.
- Hornero by Gabriel Chaile. The sculpture is a celebration of the behaviour of the Rufous Hornero bird, a national emblem of Argentina. The bird is known for building homes on high surfaces such as light poles and monuments; Chaile’s work will mimic the shape of the nest, which resembles an old wood-burning oven.
- Believe in Discontent by Ruth Ewan. The sculpture takes its title from words by suffragist Charlotte Despard, who addressed many crowds in Trafalgar Square. Modelled on a mass-produced ornament of a black cat, it challenges the hierarchy of sculpture versus ornament in public space as well as reflecting on the Square’s role in the history of social change, specifically the women from the suffrage movement and who were insultingly portrayed as cats in the media.
- Ancient Feelings by Thomas J Price. A monumental golden bronze sculpture depicts a fictional woman whose features have been amalgamated from a wide range of historic sources, creating a collective community portrait.
- Sweet Potatoes and Yams are Not the Same by Veronica Ryan. The work presents a sweet potato island, building on Ryan’s practice of using everyday objects, particularly foods. The humble potato, which originated in Peru, South America, has travelled all around the world and represents the global conversations that happen in Trafalgar Square.
- Lady in Blue by Tschabalala Self. The sculpture pays homage to a young, metropolitan woman of colour inspired by a desire to bring a contemporary ‘everywoman’ to Trafalgar Square. Made of bronze, the work will be patinated with Lapis Lazuli blue, a rare and refined pigment that has been used since antiquity.
- Untitled by Andra Ursuţa. The artist presents a hollow, life-sized person on a horse covered in a shroud and cast in a slime-green resin. The sculpture embodies multiple histories of public sculpture and commemoration at a time when there is increasing debate about the use of public space.
The proposals will also be available to view online and on Bloomberg Connects, a free app that allows users to access museums, galleries and cultural spaces around the world anytime, anywhere. The public are invited to have their say about the proposed artworks, which will inform the decision of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group when selecting the two winning sculptures. The two winning works will be announced in March 2024 and installed on the Fourth Plinth in 2026 and 2028 respectively.
Improntas (Imprints) by Teresa Margolles has already been announced as the next sculpture on the Fourth Plinth in September 2024. The work is made up of plaster casts of the faces of hundreds of trans people which will be arranged around the plinth in the form of a Tzompantli, a skull rack from Mesoamerican civilisations. The work will begin to naturally erode whilst on the Fourth Plinth, with the detail of the faces slowly fading as the plaster is exposed to London’s weather. The work is a tribute to a transgender woman called Karla who was murdered in Mexico in 2016, and stands for the rights of trans communities worldwide.
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Creative Industries and 24hr London Team, said: “The Fourth Plinth is renowned across the globe for bringing world-class contemporary art to the heart of London. I’m delighted that our shortlisted artists have provided such thought-provoking pieces. For 25 years the sculptures on the Fourth Plinth have sparked interest and debate – bringing out the art critic in everybody. I’ve no doubt that these proposals will continue that fantastic tradition.”
Ekow Eshun, Chair of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, said: “On behalf of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, I would like to thank the artists for taking the time to consider this unique commission so carefully. There is an incredible group of works on show today, and we look forward to hearing the public’s thoughts on these proposals.”
Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said: “The Fourth Plinth is located just a few yards from the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, and I am delighted that we can host the exhibition of the shortlisted artists’ proposals in the Gallery. It is important that we find ways to encourage the public to look at and become interested in art, whether it’s the great pictures in our museums or new art in public spaces, and I would encourage the public to have their say on these exciting proposals.”
Jemma Read, Global Head of Corporate Philanthropy at Bloomberg LP, said: “The Fourth Plinth celebrates London’s global influences and provides a unique platform to consider our shared future. At the 25th anniversary of this iconic commission, we’re delighted to see a shortlist of such thought-provoking work which speaks to our capital’s diverse history. We’re proud to support the Mayor of London to bring these proposals to people across London, and to enable communities around the world to get involved through the Bloomberg Connects guide.”
The Fourth Plinth is funded by the Mayor of London with support from Arts Council England and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
