Fourth Plinth shortlist for 2026 and 2028 revealed: discover the artists and their designs
Shortlist for Fourth Plinth 2026 and 2028 spot unveiled, seven artists compete for coveted honour.
The shortlist for the next Fourth Plinth commissions has been announced, stirring excitement as seven esteemed artists vie for the prestigious spot. Chila Kumari Singh Burman, Gabriel Chaile, Ruth Ewan, Thomas J Price, Veronica Ryan, Tschabalala Self, and Andra Ursuţa have each submitted compelling proposals, currently on view at the National Gallery until 17 March 2024.
Nestled in Trafalgar Square, the Fourth Plinth serves as a platform for cutting-edge artistry. Since its inception in 1999 with Mark Wallinger's Ecce Homo, it's been a platform for diverse creative expressions. Currently, visitors can admire Samson Kambalu's thought-provoking work, Antelope.
Among the shortlisted proposals, Chila Kumari Singh Burman's The Smile You Send Returns to You offers a poignant narrative of her father's journey to the UK from India aboard the HMS Battory, featuring his ice cream van, ‘The Rocket,’ as a central motif. Gabriel Chaile's Hornero celebrates the Rufous Hornero bird, a national emblem of Argentina, with a sculpture mimicking the shape of its nest, reminiscent of an old wood-burning oven.
Ruth Ewan's Believe in Discontent challenges conventional notions of sculpture versus ornamentation, with a sculpture modelled on a mass-produced ornament of a black cat, reflecting on the Square’s role in the history of social change. Thomas J Price's Ancient Feelings offers a collective community portrait, depicting a fictional woman amalgamated from historic sources in monumental golden bronze.
Veronica Ryan's Sweet Potatoes and Yams are Not the Same presents a reflection on global conversations, featuring a sweet potato island to represent the diversity of Trafalgar Square. Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue pays homage to a young, metropolitan woman of colour, aiming to bring a contemporary 'everywoman' to the Square. Andra Ursuţa's Untitled embodies multiple histories of public sculpture and commemoration, with a hollow, life-sized person on a horse covered in a shroud and cast in slime-green resin.
With public feedback shaping the final selection process, these proposals promise to continue the Fourth Plinth's legacy of igniting conversations and inspiring contemplation in the heart of the city.
Previous Fourth Plinth Commissions
1999: Ecce Homo by Mark Wallinger
2000: Regardless of History by Bill Woodrow
2001: Monument by Dame Rachel Whiteread
2005: Alison Lapper Pregnant by Marc Quinn
2007: Model for a Hotel by Thomas Schuette
2009: One & Other by Sir Antony Gormley OBE
2010: Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle by Yinka Shonibare CBE
2012: Powerless Structures, Fig 101 by Elmgreen & Dragset
2013: Hahn/Cock by Katharina Fritsch
2015: Gift Horse by Hans Haacke
2016: Really Good by David Shrigley OBE
2018: The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist by Michael Rakowitz
2020: THE END by Heather Phillipson
2022: Antelope by Samson Kambalu
The Fourth Plinth Commission Shortlist is on show at the National Gallery now.
Date: 19 February – 17 March 2024. Location: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN. Price: Free. Website: nationalgallery.org.uk
Click here to vote for your favourite now.
A hilarious new exhibition by viral artist Babak Ganjei, opening in London and Glasgow this November, transforms Britain’s most embarrassing text blunders into art as part of a campaign by IRN-BRU and FUNKIN Cocktails.
The National Gallery is set to present a vibrant programme of exhibitions in 2025, showcasing its rich artistic heritage while highlighting contemporary themes and narrative…
Sketch London’s iconic destination transforms into a festive wonderland celebrating the magic of holiday confections and cultural traditions.
London’s tallest Christmas tree, is now on display at One Bishopsgate Plaza until 5 January 202…
Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? Explore our Flo London gift guide for the best finds from London’s museum and gallery shops. From unique homeware and jewellery to books, prints, and art pieces, there’s a wide range of thoughtful gifts to choose from…
Courtauld Mini Tote Bag Orange Navy · Art is a Serious Subject Tote Bag · V&A Tote Bag · Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland Bums Bag - House of Voltaire · I am a Camera Tote Bag · Saatchi Gallery Bag · ICA Tote Bag, 2024 · Design Museum Tote Bag · NPG Monogram Large Tote Bag in Red · Chisenhale Tote Bag · Tate Tote Bag · Two Tone Barbican Tote Bag · Hayward Gallery Tote Bag…
The Serpentine Galleries are set to deliver a spectacular programme in 2025, featuring groundbreaking exhibitions and events that explore themes of identity, ecology, and technology…
Twelve artists will compete for a £15,000 prize and a solo exhibition, celebrating the creativity and diversity of East London.
Are you a lover of all things cheese? If so, DesignMyNight has unveiled an exciting and unique opportunity – they’re hiring the UK’s very first Cheese Fondue Tester…
Opening 11 December, Palmer’s exhibition offers a bold exploration of art, violence, and vulnerability, transforming the visitor experience at the National Gallery.
Jim Murray is an actor, director, conservationist and artist known for Masters of Air (2024) and The Crown (2016). Murray first came to prominence as an artist in 2023 with his acclaimed inaugural exhibition In Flow, where his dynamic abstract paintings were hung in conversation with John Constable’s The Dark Sid…
Anthony Daley is an abstract expressionist painter known for his vibrant, large-scale works that explore beauty through intense colour and light. His art bridges the past and present, drawing inspiration from the Old Masters as well as diverse sources like literature, science, poetry, and nature.
The National Gallery is set to present a vibrant programme of exhibitions in 2025, showcasing its rich artistic heritage while highlighting contemporary themes and narrative…
On 13 November, Londoners are invited to talk to strangers and take part in a city-wide treasure hunt, with a chance to receive cash in hand…
Stepping into Lolo on Bermondsey Street, the latest venture from chef José Pizarro, feels like entering a warm, inviting blend of art, design, and Spanish-inspired dishes…
Rachel Kneebone’s work explores the relationship between the body and states of being such as movement, stasis, and renewal. Through her porcelain sculptures, she examines transformation and metamorphosis, reflecting on what it means to inhabit the body and be alive…
New cultural landmark will offer unparalleled public access to national collections through an innovative “Order an Object” experience…
An immersive exhibition brings Devlin’s studio to life, featuring poignant portraits of refugees that highlight their stories and celebrate the power of human connection.
Art Basel Paris 2024 opened with a sense of grandeur, marking a new chapter as it rebranded from Paris+ par Art Basel to Art Basel Paris at the newly restored Grand Palais. The fair showcased 195 galleries from 42 countries, filling the iconic venue with a dynamic display of contemporary and modern art.
Global cinema platform MUBI and intersectional feminist publication Polyester kicked off Halloween week with a hauntingly glamorous launch event for the much-anticipated body-horror film The Substance at The Standard.
Saff Williams is the Curatorial Director at Brookfield Properties, bringing over fifteen years of experience in the arts sector…
Enhanced restrictions implemented at the National Gallery following a series of attacks on iconic artworks to safeguard visitors and the collection.
Enhanced restrictions implemented at the National Gallery following a series of attacks on iconic artworks to safeguard visitors and the collection.
This winter, the Southbank Centre will offer a festive programme packed with incredible shows, exhibitions, free events, and its famous Winter Market.
Chelsea Barracks will host its inaugural Winter Fair in November, featuring festive food, shopping, and family-friendly activities.
Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504 · The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence · Jameel Prize: Moving Images · Norberto Spina: Presente · Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious · As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic · Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation · Self-Made…
Enhanced restrictions implemented at the National Gallery following a series of attacks on iconic artworks to safeguard visitors and the collection.
Artists Anna Pianim and Adriana Wynne unveil their first collection, blending fine art and functional design with handcrafted sculptural light fixtures, in a dynamic, immersive event celebrating creativity and craftsmanship.