London Sculpture Week returns for citywide celebration of free public art
London Sculpture Week, the capital’s annual celebration of public sculpture, returns this autumn for its fourth edition. From 20 to 28 September 2025, the city will be 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.
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 includes both free and ticketed events, highlighting the power of sculpture to invigorate public spaces and invite dialogue. Audiences will have the opportunity to experience world-class outdoor artworks and hear directly from the artists and curators behind them.
Highlights of the programme include the official launch of Untitled The Line, a new sculpture on The Line at Bromley-by-Bow by Rasheed Araeen, one of Britain’s leading minimalist artists. Alongside this, The Line will host a free installation of Araeen’s Reading Room, where visitors can explore key publications from his six-decade career. The Line’s Youth Guides will introduce the texts, including editions of Third Text and early catalogues celebrating Araeen’s curatorial projects and activism.
A talk at the Fourth Plinth in London’s historic Trafalgar Square, exploring the history of one of the world’s most important public art commissions, as well as the current sculpture, Mil Veces Un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant) by Mexican artist Teresa Margolles, which honours trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. Artist Simon Hitchens will stage two day-long performances at Frieze Sculpture in Regent’s Park, tracing the shifting shadows of a rock found at the grounds of Regent’s Park from dawn to dusk on both Sundays of London Sculpture Week.
Other programme highlights include 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, will lead 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, will guide visitors through this year’s edition of Frieze Sculpture.
A tour of The Line’s exhibition Madge Gill: Nature in Mind with curator Sophie Dutton, hosted in collaboration with the Wallace Collection’s Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur exhibition and Newham Heritage Month, will feature rarely seen works from the Newham Council archive.
On the afternoon of Friday 26 September, the London Sculpture Week Symposium will return to the Warburg Institute, building on last year’s conversations and opening new pathways to imagine the future of public realm activations.
World-class sculpture across London
Each of the participating initiatives offers top free, high-quality public art invigorating diverse spaces across the city. In East London, The Line is a dynamic outdoor exhibition that connects Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with The O2, following the waterways along the Greenwich Meridian. It features 23 installations by leading international artists including Helen Cammock, Yinka Ilori, and Antony Gormley. The Line celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2025 with a programme which includes the commission of Untitled The Line, by Rasheed Araeen, one of Britain’s leading minimalist artists; recently added to the trail this work will be on view during London Sculpture Week.
Also in East London, visitors can explore three public art commissions across East Bank, the Mayor of London’s newest cultural and education district in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: Lemon Meringue by Michael Landy, Lubna Chowdhary’s Temporal Trace and artist duo A.A. Murakami’s In Mountains Shadow.
In central London, another Mayor of London initiative, the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, is currently showing Mil Veces Un Instante (A thousand Times in an Instant) by Teresa Margolles. The sculpture consists of plaster casts of the faces of hundreds of trans, non-binary, and gender non- conforming people from across the UK and Mexico, and stands as a powerful statement in support of trans communities worldwide.
Frieze Sculpture returns to The Regent’s Park from 17 September to 2 November 2025 for its 13th edition, coinciding with Frieze London and Frieze Masters, and remaining free to all. For the first time, curator Fatoş Üstek introduces a unifying theme, In the Shadows. As autumn deepens and shadows lengthen, Frieze Sculpture 2025 transforms the landscape into a stage where light and dark converge, reaffirming the power of art to reshape both environment and imagination. Set within the park’s English Gardens, works by leading international artists explore darkness not as absence, but as a generative force for imagination, memory, and transformation. From the unseen and ambiguous to the discarded and suppressed, the exhibition reflects on fear, power, and resilience, inviting audiences to confront what lies beyond the immediate.
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 can join a special tour with David Rosenberg, Director of Velorose Gallery, exploring the relationship between art and the idea of the canvas. Following the tour, three participants will get the chance to become the canvas by choosing one of three free permanent tattoo
designs inspired by works in the exhibition. Tattoos will take place at a later date.
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.
Bloomberg Connects returns as London Sculpture Week’s Official Digital Guide. Explore now on Bloomberg Connects: links.bloombergconnects.org/6Ggw/b8059rjl
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “London Sculpture Week breathes fresh life into our city, turning parks, public spaces and squares into art galleries for everyone to enjoy. There is an impressive line-up of leading sculptors showcasing their work, including at the world renowned Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, offering Londoners and visitors a unique opportunity to experience world-class art outdoors and hear directly from the artists and curators behind it, as we build a better London for everyone.”
Tamsin Ace, Director of East Bank, said “London Sculpture Week is a powerful reminder of how art can transform the way we experience our city. The East Bank partners are proud to be part of this citywide celebration, opening up opportunities for people to encounter sculpture in London’s newest cultural quarter and beyond.
Sarah Carrington, Director of The Line, said “London Sculpture Week is a chance for visitors and Londoners alike to explore the capital through art outdoors. The Line is delighted to be part of this growing annual programme which, over nine days, will shine a light on an array of approaches set in diverse urban landscapes. We are excited to welcome back Rasheed Araeen, whose performance work Discosailing was presented on The Line in 2024, with a new sculptural work situated on East London’s
historic waterways. This new commission is a powerful example of the potential of public sculpture to
increase access to art and connect people to place.”
Fatoş Üstek, Curator of Frieze Sculpture said: “This year signifies a stronger partnership, featuring artist tours seamlessly connected to partner displays, along with a symposium that builds on the achievements of last year. Gradually, London Sculpture Week is evolving into a citywide celebration, offering both residents and visitors the opportunity to experience art outdoors in thought-provoking, immersive, and interactive ways. These growing collaborations not only enrich our cultural landscape but also reinforce London’s reputation as a vibrant hub for public art; fostering dialogue, creativity, and connection within the shared spaces of our city”.
Stella Ioannou, Artistic Director of Sculpture in the City, said “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.”
Full programme details are available at: londonsculptureweek.org
Follow London Sculpture Week 2025 on social media:
@sculptureinthecity
@thelinelondon
@friezeofficial
@londonmademeofficial
#LondonSculptureWeek
FURTHER INFORMATION
Link to press pack here.
For further information, press images and interview requests please contact:
Irene Ruiz Garrido | irene.ruiz.garrido@flint-culture.com | 07447338887
William McCrossan | william.mccrossan@flint-culture.com