Written on 12 October 2020 by Courtney Manton in London
Mayfair has never been short on fine art and sculpture, but 2020 sees the launch of a new initiative. The Mayfair Sculpture Trail takes enthusiasts on an outdoor tour of world-class works, temporary and permanent, with pieces to tick off your list in iconic locations including Bond Street, the Burlington Arcade and Berkeley Square.
Part of the annual Mayfair Art Weekend, the trail launched on 1 October and will run for the whole month. According to the Mayfair Art Weekend website: “Art is not confined by gallery walls in Mayfair. From Regent Street to Park Lane, and Oxford Street to Piccadilly, sculptures in the public realm, both permanent and temporary, are always free to explore in one of the world’s most prestigious and vibrant art neighbourhoods.”
New works to spot as you go around the trail include:
Kalliopi Lemos’s unfeasibly-large handbag – the Bag of Aspirations – you’ll find it outside Fenwick’s department store.
Look out for Patrick O’Reilly’s Bear with a Bucket striding along Cork Street.
You can see Meditation 1554, a large human head constructed from meticulously-assembled bicycle chains by Seo Young-Deok. Find it in Grosvenor Square.
And, if you think someone’s watching you in the Burlington Arcade, it’s probably Laurent Grasso’s Zechariah’s Vision – a compelling marble structure, adorned with seven staring eyes.
Joining them on the trail are the permanent public art works, which you can enjoy at any time of year. Look out for Bruce Mclean’s Handbag Heads at One Hanover Street and Elisabeth Frink’s Horse and Rider on New Bond Street, where you can also see Henry Moore’s Time-Life Screen. Or check out Antony Gormley’s Cinch on the facade of Burlington Arcade.
To take part in the trail download the Smartify app, where you’ll find audio commentary alongside detailed information on each artwork.
Read more about the trail on the Mayfair Art Weekend website.
