Renowned artist Alicja Biala will create the artwork along with the local community
Nottingham City Council, BACKLIT Gallery and It’s in Nottingham, are thrilled to announce a vibrant new public artwork will be unveiled this summer.
The artwork, which will be created by artist Alicja Biala who is renowned for her large-scale paintings and sculptures displayed in public places across Europe.
The statue will be located in the new rain garden at the corner of Maid Marian Way and Upper Parliament Street – a prominent position at a key entrance to the city that will act as a welcome to everyone using the new Maid Marian Way junction and pedestrians using the new public realm.
The statue will be a silhouette formed entirely of cast-metal fragments, representing Maid Marian. It will be created using cast bronze foliage of local native plants from around Nottinghamshire, including English oak, silver birch, hawthorn, bluebell, common nettle and alpine pennycress.
The sculpture will sit upon a sandstone boulder plinth and will literally be rooted in its place, signifying its growth from Nottingham.
Depending on light, weather, and viewpoint, the statue will evoke Maid Marian as a living presence defined by what she represents: forest, myth, and communal values.
The sculpture’s silhouette will frame the city through its viewpoint and naturally form a place for visitors to gather.
The statue will be cast and created by the artist this spring and summer, with the public able to get involved through a series of workshops being held at BACKLIT Gallery. Details of where and when the workshops will take place as well as how to book will be publicised later this spring.
The Central Government funded project to transform Maid Marian Way which was completed in autumn 2025 thanks to £8.9million to renew and reshape… in a way that improves experience, drives growth, and ensures future sustainability. Nottingham City Council is currently asking residents for their feedback on the finished scheme via an online survey.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “The Maid Marian Way project wasn’t just about creating a better environment for those passing through the area by foot, bike or car, but about regenerating and improving the whole area at an important gateway point to the city centre.
“Now that the new trees are in and wildflowers are beginning to flourish, we’re delighted to announce the addition of a stunning new statue based on Maid Marian.”
The artist, Alicja Biala said: “I wanted to imagine Maid Marian not as a fixed heroine from the past, but as a living presence shaped by Nottingham’s landscape, folklore and values. Formed from cast fragments of native plants, the sculpture speaks to care, resilience and collective memory.
“I’m excited to spend time in Nottingham and to work with the local community in weaving this sculpture together. Every plant included in the work has been chosen for its connection to local folklore, healing traditions and ecological importance, so that the sculpture can grow out of the stories, meanings and habitats of Nottinghamshire.”
Suzanne Golden, Director at BACKLIT Gallery, said: “Maid Marian is a figure who bridges both the historical and contemporary identity of Nottingham. Her courageous and rebellious spirit has never faded and still reflects the strength and character of Nottingham today. BACKLIT is proud to celebrate Maid Marian and bring in a new era of tourism by shining a light on the city’s rich arts and cultural offering.”
Alex Flint, CEO It’s in Nottingham said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing this new sculpture installed in Nottingham city centre – in its ideal gateway location on Maid Marian Way.
“As well as celebrating our city’s legends, creativity and community, this new piece by an international artist also recognises Nottingham’s power to work together to give visitors and residents even more to be proud of in our city.”
About the artist:
Alicja Biała is an internationally exhibited artist known for ambitious projects in the public realm, often developed in collaboration with civic and cultural institutions. Her work spans sculpture, painting and installation, exploring connections between landscape, history, ecology and cultural memory. Biała’s most widely exhibited works are from the Totemy series, shown at major events including the Liverpool Biennial. She has also created large-scale murals in cities such as Wrocław, and her work has been presented in galleries and institutions across Europe and the UK.
Nottingham City Council commissioned BACKLIT Gallery to facilitate the engagement and ultimate fabrication of a new sculpture for the city
It’s In Nottingham are a key delivery partner and will support the marketing and publicity campaign for the sculpture
About the project:
Feedback gathered during the 2025 public consultation informed a series of key themes that shaped the artist brief. Biala was selected through an invited competitive process led by Nottingham City Councils commissioning panel. These included celebrating Nottingham’s heritage and cultural identity, with a renewed focus on the often-overlooked story of Maid Marian, alongside messages of women’s empowerment, expressed through qualities such as strength, courage, kindness and rebellion. The brief also incorporated environmental themes, drawing connections between Maid Marian’s association with the May Queen and the ecology and native plant life of the local area.
The commission reflects a wider commitment to addressing the historic underrepresentation of women in public sculpture in the UK.
Biala’s work examines our shared cultural past, the formation of cultural identity, and the effects of environmental degradation, intertwining traditional techniques with the political and personal tensions of contemporary life. Her vision for Maid Marian responded strongly to the brief, reflecting these themes while offering a contemporary interpretation that connects Nottingham’s history, folklore and natural environment.
About the statue:
The process will involve foraging native Nottingham plants, which will be sculptured in wax to form the main structure of the piece. These elements will be moulded into shape, and the human-height statue will be cast in bronze and will stand on top of a sandstone plinth.
The roots of the statue will be integrated with the 1.5 tonne stone boulder. The statue will be covered by CCTV being monitored by Nottingham City Council.
Further details will follow from BACKLIT Gallery on how members of the public can take part in foraging sessions and workshops that will contribute to the making of the wax components of the work.