ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Tschabalala Self Unveils 17-Foot 'Lady in Blue' on London's Fourth Plinth

artist · 2026-04-24

On September 10, Tschabalala Self's bronze sculpture 'Lady in Blue' was revealed on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, London. Standing nearly 17 feet tall, this piece is Self's largest work to date, featuring a figure adorned in a turquoise dress and striking jewelry. A New York native, Self is celebrated for her vibrant portrayals of Black women through paint, fabric, and collage. The bronze is enhanced with Lapis Lazuli, a rich blue pigment derived from grinding semi-precious stones, historically valued and found in artworks at the nearby National Gallery. During her speech at the unveiling, Self stated that 'Lady in Blue' represents 'an everyday woman like the many who occupy the square daily,' rather than an idol or historical figure. The Fourth Plinth is renowned as the UK's most prestigious public art commission.

Key facts

  • Tschabalala Self's 'Lady in Blue' was unveiled on September 10 on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, London.
  • The sculpture is nearly 17 feet tall and is Self's largest to date.
  • The figure wears a turquoise dress and statement jewelry and takes a purposeful step forward.
  • Self was born and is based in New York.
  • The bronze sculpture is patinated with Lapis Lazuli, a vibrant blue pigment made by grinding semi-precious stone.
  • Lapis Lazuli has been prized since antiquity and appears in historical paintings, including some at the nearby National Gallery.
  • In her speech, Self said 'Lady in Blue' is 'not an idol to venerate or a historical figure to commemorate' but 'an everyday woman like the many who occupy the square daily.'
  • The Fourth Plinth is perhaps the most famous public art commission in the United Kingdom.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Fourth Plinth
  • National Gallery
  • Fourth Plinth Programme
  • Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)
  • Cass Sculpture Foundation
  • Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group
  • Arts Council England
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • Mayor of London
  • Press Association
  • The Art Newspaper
  • The Guardian
  • Coal Drops Yard
  • De La Warr Pavilion
  • Whitechapel Gallery
  • Pilar Corrias
  • MoMA
  • Guggenheim
  • Whitney Museum of American Art
  • Albertina
  • Hammer Museum
  • ICA Boston
  • exibart.com
  • Royal Society of Arts
  • Greater London Authority
  • Le Journal des Arts
  • British Parliament
  • New Museum
  • Wallpaper*
  • PA Media Assignments
  • Fourth Plinth programme
  • Trafalgar Square
  • London City Hall
  • Factum Arte
  • Baltimore Museum of Art
  • ARTCENTRON
  • PA Media
  • Hugo Boss Prize
  • Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series
  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
  • Guggenheim Museum
  • Studio Museum in Harlem
  • Brooklyn Museum
  • LACMA
  • SFMOMA
  • Art Institute of Chicago
  • Detroit Institute of Arts
  • Galerie Magazine
  • Bloomsbury Philanthropies
  • Pilar Corrias gallery
  • CNN

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Trafalgar Square
  • New York
  • Harlem
  • United States
  • King's Cross
  • Bexhill-on-Sea
  • Sussex
  • Vienna
  • Austria
  • Los Angeles
  • Boston
  • Fornebu
  • Norway
  • North Africa
  • Middle East
  • Europe
  • Sind
  • Malawi
  • Afghanistan
  • Ife
  • upstate New York
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Central London
  • East Sussex
  • Baltimore
  • Romania
  • Bexhill-On-Sea

Sources

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