The annual Frieze Sculpture exhibition is back in the capital this month, and the best part? It's free for all to enjoy. Curated by Fatoş Üstek, a notable figure in contemporary art, this year's exhibition coincides with Frieze London and Frieze Masters, running from 11-15 October 2023. The 2023 edition features 21 leading international artists showcasing their artworks across the historic English Gardens of The Regent’s Park.

This year's exhibition highlights a mix of established artists and emerging talents, presenting site-responsive and site-specific projects that explore the dual nature of sculpture—both lasting and transient. The artworks collectively delve into themes of transformation, political empowerment, contemporary rituals, and social imaginings. We braved the rain on its opening day to get you the #FLODown on 7 sculptures that stood out for their meaningful impact from this year's cohort of artists.

Amy Stephens

Waking Matter, 2023

#FLODown: Amy Stephens's Waking Matter is a sculpture crafted from surplus marble, which has been elevated as a symbol of stability and beauty. The piece was born from an off-cut noticed by the artist in a Tuscany quarry. The sculpture beautifully combines the natural and constructed, emphasising geological textures and celebrating the wonder of terrestrial materials. Amy Stephens, a British artist, reimagines everyday materials through photography and collage, offering a fresh perspective on time and landscapes. Her transition to three-dimensional structures emphasises this intent, encouraging a thoughtful reevaluation of our environment and its temporal dimensions—a celebration of artifacts that urges reflection.

Instagram: @amystephensstudio

Hank Willis Thomas

All Power to All People (bronze), 2023

#FLODown: Hank Willis Thomas's artwork All Power to All People (bronze) combines the Afro pick and the Black Power salute, symbolising Black identity and empowerment. It reflects Thomas's exploration of public art's influence and commemorates the cultural and political significance of the Afro pick, representing unity and identity for African Americans. Inspired by pop artist Claes Oldenburg's monumental everyday objects, the artwork calls attention to the lack of commemorative statues addressing equal justice and belonging. As an artist, Thomas engages with themes like perspective, identity, commodity, media, and popular culture. He co-founded 'For Freedoms,' an initiative using art for transformative connection and social justice. Thomas's work is globally exhibited and is part of prominent public art collections.

Instagram: @hankwillisthomas

Leilah Babirye

Gyagenda, 2023

#FLODown: Leilah Babirye, a multidisciplinary artist from Uganda, creates sculptures using repurposed materials that reflect themes of identity, sexuality, and human rights. Her first bronze sculpture, Gyagenda, continues her exploration of an ongoing tradition: imagining and creating a community of queer Buganda clanspeople. The work’s title, Gyagenda, is a Luganda idiom, a moniker often given to young people going forth into the wider world to gather their chosen families. Babirye's art is influenced by her experiences as an LGBTQ+ individual and her activism for LGBTQ+ and human rights globally. This influence stems from her move to New York from Uganda in 2015 and her subsequent asylum in 2018. She deliberately uses discarded materials to challenge stereotypes and redefine their significance in her work.

Instagram: @babiryesculptor

Ayşe Erkmen

Moss Column, 2023

#FLODown: Ayşe Erkmen, known for her impactful site-specific works, utilises her surroundings to prompt contemplation of space. The Moss Column exemplifies this, featuring a moss-covered stone column with a copper water tube simulating a hose, fostering moss growth through a continuous water flow. Erkmen blends familiar and unfamiliar elements, using air, humidity, and temperature as sculptural components alongside water, stone, and copper. Based in Berlin and Istanbul, she is a trailblazing artist, breaking barriers in the art world, and made history by being the first woman to receive the prestigious Ernst Franz Vogelmann Sculpture Award in 2020.

Instagram: @erkmen.ayse

Suhasini Kejriwal

Garden of Un-Earthly Delights, 2023

#FLODown: Suhasini Kejriwal, a Kolkata-based artist, explores chaotic urban, jungle, and desert landscapes through painting, sculpture, figuration, and abstraction. Her work reflects her observations of daily life and draws on psychology, concepts, and historical context. During the Covid pandemic, she found inspiration in her home garden and turned to natural forms. Kejriwal delves into the transnational history of English gardens, critiquing colonial influences on Indian urban landscapes and hybrid species. Her recent series features hand-painted bronze sculptures, defying totemic expectations and highlighting nature's enduring power in both past and future contexts.

Website: suhasinikejriwal.com

Zak Ové

The Mothership Connection, 2021

#FLODown: Zak Ové, a British Trinidadian artist, reinterprets African and Trinidadian cultures through repurposed materials, emphasising carnival and masquerade for self-emancipation. His art blends old-world mythology with futuristic themes, representing hope and Afrofuturism. The Mothership Connection sculpture symbolises a beacon to the future, combining diverse cultural elements and architectural references. Ové's multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, film, and photography, focusing on the African diaspora's history and traditions. He seeks to rewrite history by celebrating imagination and challenging the boundaries of reality and possibility.

Instagram: @zakove

Yinka Shonibare

Material (SG) IV, 2023 

#FLODown: Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, a British-Nigerian artist, explores race and class through diverse artistic mediums. Material (SG) IV, a dynamic sculpture resembling billowing fabric, encapsulates the idea of freezing wind in a moment. It challenges conventional monuments of personal power, focusing on universal experiences of historical change. Originating from Shonibare’s Fourth Plinth commission in 2010, the sculpture repurposes sails adorned with his signature Dutch wax batik fabric, a symbol of African identity and global movement of people. Shonibare's work showcases interconnectedness and layered identities through art. Born in 1962 in London, Shonibare has received notable awards and honours, with his Wind Sculpture series displayed internationally in various prominent locations.

Instagram: @shonibarestudio

This sculpture will only be on display during Frieze Week

Sanford Biggers

Cheshire (Janus), 2023

#FLODown: Sanford Biggers's illuminated sculpture Cheshire (Janus) is a piece inspired by the mysterious Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. It addresses the historical ridicule of Black Americans, depicted through exaggerated lips and teeth post-Emancipation. The artwork skilfully blends this serious historical theme with the enchanting lights of cabaret and circus, exploring the contrast between surface charm and hidden realities. Known for his diverse artistic talents, Biggers uses history to shed light on contemporary societal, political, and economic issues. The installation is available for viewing during Frieze London week only (11–15 October 2023).

Instagram: @sanfordbiggers

Accompanying Frieze Sculptures is an exciting public program that includes live activations, guided tours, and a complimentary audio guide narrated by Üstek. Click here for the line up of events.

Date: 20 September – 29 October 2023.
Location: The Regent’s Park. Price: Free. Instagram:@friezeofficial.Website: frieze.com.