Maggi Hambling's Controversial Mary Wollstonecraft Statue Unveiled in London

Maggi Hambling's statue honoring Mary Wollstonecraft was unveiled on Tuesday on Newington Green in North London, following a decade-long campaign. The sculpture features a small naked female figure atop a silver, undulating column, described by Hambling as an 'everywoman.' Public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with crowds gathering to express disappointment and confusion. Critics argue the nude figure feels tonally inappropriate for Wollstonecraft, an 18th-century feminist thinker who founded a girls' school at the site. The statue's silvery material appears cheap, and its off-center placement adds to its oddness. Hambling's 1998 Oscar Wilde memorial also provoked strong feelings, but this latest work has sparked widespread online criticism and on-site protests, including some covering the figure with duct tape and a face mask. The unveiling occurred during the pandemic, possibly amplifying public engagement. While some defend artistic originality in public statuary, many view this as a missed opportunity to honor Wollstonecraft effectively.