American Artist Tschabalala Self Unveils Lady in Blue Statue to Celebrate Londoners’ Spirit
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Summary: Tschabalala Self, a prominent American contemporary artist, has unveiled a profound statue titled “Lady in Blue” at Trafalgar Square, London. The statue will be on public display for two years, until Summer 2028.
Tschabalala Self, a prominent American contemporary artist, has unveiled a profound statue titled “Lady in Blue” at Trafalgar Square, London. This new statue occupied the prestigious Fourth Plinth as the 16th contemporary art commission and was officially installed on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Lady in Blue is a monumental public bronze sculpture, 5 meters tall. It depicts a young, voluptuous, Black woman, walking confidently with a wide, rapid stride. She wears a bright blue gown and high heels, accessorised with bold earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet. Self’s statue is designed to embody the everyday spirit of Londoners, their diversity and positive outlook.
“My work Lady In Blue will bring to Trafalgar Square a woman that many can relate to,” the artist said.
“She is not an idol to venerate or a historic figurehead to commemorate. She is a woman walking forward into our collective future with ambition and purpose. She is a Londoner who represents the city’s spirit,” she added.
Tschabalala Self is a New York-based artist who uses painting, printmaking and sculpture to explore ideas surrounding figuration. She constructs depictions of predominantly women using a combination of sewn, printed, and painted materials, traversing different artistic and craft traditions. Her solo exhibitions and performances include Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Australia (2025); Longlati Foundation, Shanghai (2025); Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Finland (2024); Kunstmuseum, St. Gallen (2023); Le Consortium, Dijon (2022), and among others. Her work is also included in collections such as Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, USA; Astrup Fearnley, Oslo, Norway; Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, USA.
Lady in Blue will remain on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square for two years, staying on display until Summer 2028. Then the sculpture will be moved to its permanent home in Fornebu, Norway.
