Tschabalala Self’s Splendid “Lady in Blue” Graces London’s Fourth Plinth
Self said the figure is “not an idol to venerate or a historical figure to commemorate,” but rather “an everyday woman like the many who occupy the square daily.”
LONDON — Tschabalala Self’s “Lady in Blue” was unveiled today as the latest sculpture for the Fourth Plinth on Trafalgar Square in London, perhaps the most famous public art commission in the United Kingdom. At nearly 17 feet tall, donning a glamorous turquoise dress and statement jewelry as she takes a purposeful step forward, the towering figure is Self’s largest sculpture to date.
Born and based in New York, Self is best known for her joyful depictions of Black women rendered in paint, fabric, and collage elements. Fabricated from bronze, her Fourth Plinth sculpture is patinated with Lapis Lazuli, a vibrant blue pigment made by grinding the semi-precious stone. Prized since antiquity, the color also appears in many historical paintings, including some at the nearby National Gallery.
Despite this reference to art history, Self’s sculpture is resolutely a woman of today. In a speech at the unveiling Thursday, September 10, the artist emphasized that “Lady in Blue” is “not an idol to venerate or a historical figure to commemorate.”
“She’s an everyday woman like the many who occupy the square daily,” Self said.
