List of public art in Coventry

This is a list of public art in Coventry, in the West Midlands, England. This list applies only to works of public art accessible in an outdoor public space. For example, this does not include artwork visible inside a museum.

Central Coventry edit

Coventry Cathedral edit

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St Michael's Victory over the Devil Coventry Cathedral

52°24′30″N 1°30′25″W / 52.408217°N 1.50695°W / 52.408217; -1.50695
1958 (1958) Sir Jacob Epstein Sculpture Bronze Coventry Cathedral [1]
 
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Reconciliation Coventry Cathedral ruins

52°24′29″N 1°30′27″W / 52.408047°N 1.507478°W / 52.408047; -1.507478
1995 (1995) Josefina de Vasconcellos Statues Bronze Coventry Cathedral [2]
 
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Ecce Homo South wall of Coventry Cathedral ruins

52°24′28″N 1°30′27″W / 52.407824°N 1.507607°W / 52.407824; -1.507607 approx
1969 (1969) Sir Jacob Epstein Sculpture Subiaco marble Coventry Cathedral [2]
Christ Coventry Cathedral ruins After 1943 (1943) Alain John Concrete Coventry Cathedral [2]
  Choir of Survivors Coventry Cathedral ruins

52°24′29″N 1°30′28″W / 52.408105°N 1.507868°W / 52.408105; -1.507868 (Choir of Survivors)
2012 (2012) Helmut Heinze Bronze Coventry Cathedral [2]


Herbert Art Gallery and Museum edit

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Elisabeth Frink Herbert Art Gallery and Museum – near Jordan Well, Coventry

52°24′25″N 1°30′22″W / 52.407073°N 1.505975°W / 52.407073; -1.505975
1956 (1956) F. E. McWilliam Statue Bronze Herbert Art Gallery and Museum [2]
 
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Man's Struggle Herbert Art Gallery and Museum – Jordan Well, Coventry

52°24′25″N 1°30′19″W / 52.407013°N 1.505369°W / 52.407013; -1.505369
1959 (1959) Walter Ritchie Relief Mural Portland stone Herbert Art Gallery and Museum [2]
 
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The Enfolding Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry – Peace Garden, Coventry

52°24′27″N 1°30′23″W / 52.407637°N 1.506523°W / 52.407637; -1.506523
1985 (1985) Jean Parker Sculpture Bath stone 180 cm high Herbert Art Gallery and Museum [2] Formerly in Smithford Way was relocated to this Peace Garden in November 1990 [3]
 
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Mother and Children Herbert Art Gallery and Museum – Bayley Lane, Coventry

52°24′26″N 1°30′24″W / 52.407119°N 1.506535°W / 52.407119; -1.506535
1986 (1986) Gary Galpin Sculpture Bath stone Herbert Art Gallery and Museum [2]
  Peace Stone Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

52°24′26″N 1°30′24″W / 52.40734°N 1.5066°W / 52.40734; -1.5066
1990 (1990) Sculpture Stone, bronze Herbert Art Gallery and Museum [2]
  Barra Suite 5 Herbert Art Gallery and Museum 1992 (1992) Dr. Tim Threlfall Sculpture Herbert Art Gallery and Museum


Millennium Place edit

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Sir Frank Whittle Millennium Place, Coventry

52°24′37″N 1°30′31″W / 52.410263°N 1.508552°W / 52.410263; -1.508552
2007 (2007) Faith Winter Statue Bronze Coventry City Council
 
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Whittle Arch Millennium Place, Coventry

52°24′38″N 1°30′32″W / 52.410445°N 1.508811°W / 52.410445; -1.508811
2002 (2002) Sculpture Stainless steel Coventry City Council
 
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The Public Bench Millennium Place, Coventry

52°24′39″N 1°30′32″W / 52.410753°N 1.508973°W / 52.410753; -1.508973
1998 (1998) Jochen Gerz Coventry City Council
 
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The Future Monument Millennium Place, Coventry

52°24′38″N 1°30′30″W / 52.410585°N 1.508281°W / 52.410585; -1.508281
 () Jochen Gerz Obelisk Glass Coventry City Council


Coventry Council House edit

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Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Notes
  Leofric, Godiva and Justice Coventry Council House

52°24′25″N 1°30′29″W / 52.407083°N 1.508099°W / 52.407083; -1.508099
1920 (1920) Henry Wilson Portland stone Coventry City Council
  Flywheel Outside Coventry Magistrate's Court

52°24′22″N 1°30′30″W / 52.4062°N 1.50822°W / 52.4062; -1.50822
1987 (1987) Michael Farrell Coventry City Council [2]
Naiad Council courtyard 1981-3 (replaced 1958 original) George Wagstaffe Bronze Coventry City Council The first public art commission in Coventry, after World War II.[4][2]


Greyfriars Green edit

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Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Notes
 
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The James Starley Memorial Greyfriars Green, Coventry

52°24′15″N 1°30′55″W / 52.404205°N 1.515212°W / 52.404205; -1.515212
1884 (1884) Joseph Whitehead and Sons Memorial Statue Granite, Ravaccione marble Plinth: Overall height 600cm, plinth width 366cm. Figure: 150cm high. Panels/second stage: 200cm high x 96cm wide x 96cm deep. Column: 80cm high approx. Coventry City Council The inventor of the bicycle in 1870. [2] [5]
 
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The Thomas White Memorial Greyfriars Green, Coventry

52°24′17″N 1°30′50″W / 52.404749°N 1.513828°W / 52.404749; -1.513828
1883 (1883) W. W. Wills and T. W. Wills Statue Cornish granite, Sicilian marble Pedestal: 305cm high. Statue: 228cm high Coventry City Council [2] [6]
 
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Bucephalus Greyfriars Green, Coventry

52°24′15″N 1°30′53″W / 52.404042°N 1.514784°W / 52.404042; -1.514784
1986 (1986) Simon Evans Prancing horse sculpture scrap metal, coated black h 365cm Coventry City Council Formerly on Ring Road. Re-sited on Greyfriars Green 7 Feb 2018.[7] Was removed in 2014 and restored by the sculptor Andy Langley, before being resited here. [8]


Broadgate and Hertford Street edit

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Self Sacrifice (Lady Godiva) Broadgate, Coventry

52°24′29″N 1°30′37″W / 52.408032°N 1.510402°W / 52.408032; -1.510402
1949 (1949) William Reid Dick Equestrian statue Bronze and stone Grade II* listed Coventry City Council [2]
  Godiva and Peeping Tom Clock Broadgate House – Broadgate, Coventry

52°24′27″N 1°30′38″W / 52.407588°N 1.510682°W / 52.407588; -1.510682
1953 (1953) Trevor Tennant Clock sculpture Painted wood Coventry City Council [2]
  The People of Coventry Broadgate House – Hertford Street, Coventry

52°24′27″N 1°30′38″W / 52.407454°N 1.510634°W / 52.407454; -1.510634
1953 (1953) Trevor Tennant Panel, sculpture Doulting stone Each group: 300cm x 91cm x 46cm Coventry City Council Four panels, placed between the windows of the former Bridge Restaurant, each representing two standing figures depicting Coventry past, present and future.[2][9][10]
  Broadgate Standard Broadgate, entrance to Upper Precinct, Coventry

52°24′29″N 1°30′39″W / 52.40803°N 1.51092°W / 52.40803; -1.51092
1948 (1948) British Pressed Panels Ltd Aluminium Coventry City Council [2]
  Peeping Tom Hertford Street, Coventry

52°24′24″N 1°30′42″W / 52.406577°N 1.511642°W / 52.406577; -1.511642 approx
1972 (1972) Painted wood Coventry City Council [2]


Bull Yard edit

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The Phoenix Bull Yard & Hertford Street, Coventry

52°24′22″N 1°30′44″W / 52.406110°N 1.512326°W / 52.406110; -1.512326
1987 (1987) George Wagstaffe Statue Bronze 237cm x 150cm x 60cm Coventry City Council The sculpture represents the city's post-war story. It symbolises the young of the new city rising from the flames of the old city. The phoenix is in the form of a winged woman, her wings raised above her head, they cumulate in sharp points. [11]
  Thread Through Time Bull Yard, Coventry

52°24′22″N 1°30′47″W / 52.406127°N 1.512927°W / 52.406127; -1.512927
1999 (1999) Robert Conybear and Uta Molling Cone sculpture Cast recycled concrete, stone and brick 3.9m high approx (plus 6m of laser). Coventry City Council [2] Carved and painted cone which emits a laser beam up some 6 metres up into the night sky. [12]
  Sir Guy and the Dun Cow Above the pavement between Shelton Square and Bull Yard in the precinct, Coventry

52°24′22″N 1°30′48″W / 52.406208°N 1.513291°W / 52.406208; -1.513291
1952 (1952) Alma Ramsey Sculpture Stone mix covered in paint 200cm high x 250cm wide Coventry City Council [2] [13]


Coventry University edit

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The Coventry Boy Outside the Students Union – Coventry University – Priory Street, Coventry

52°24′30″N 1°30′23″W / 52.408378°N 1.506289°W / 52.408378; -1.506289
1966 (1966) Philip Bentham Statue Bronze and sandstone Coventry City Council [14]
 
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Graham Sutherland Building sculpture Coventry School of Art and DesignGraham Sutherland Building – Coventry University

52°24′26″N 1°30′11″W / 52.40726°N 1.503178°W / 52.40726; -1.503178
 () Sculpture Steel Coventry University
 
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Basilica Coventry Combined Court Centre – Much Park Street, Coventry

52°24′23″N 1°30′22″W / 52.406268°N 1.506007°W / 52.406268; -1.506007
1991 (1991) Paul de Monchaux Sculpture Purbeck and Portland limestone, and Frankland Grey Granite 280cm high x 300cm wide x 230cm deep approx. Coventry Combined Court Centre [15]
The Phoenix Tree University Square, Coventry University

52°24′29″N 1°30′23″W / 52.40811°N 1.50626°W / 52.40811; -1.50626
January 17, 2024 (2024-01-17) George Wagstaffe Sculpture Bronze Coventry University It pays tribute to Coventry's history and future, unveiled in Coventry University's new peace garden.[16][17]

Belgrade Theatre edit

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Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Notes
  Belgrade Belgrade Theatre – Corporation Street, Coventry

52°24′35″N 1°30′50″W / 52.409671°N 1.513903°W / 52.409671; -1.513903
1958 (1958) James C Brown Relief panel Cast cement fondu with Penmaenware granite chippings for aggregate 305cm x 230cm Belgrade Theatre [18]
 
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A memorial to Bryan Bailey Belgrade Theatre – Upper Well Street, Coventry

52°24′36″N 1°30′50″W / 52.409972°N 1.513752°W / 52.409972; -1.513752
1962 (1962) (recast in bronze 2008) Norelle Keddie Memorial sculpture Bronze Belgrade Theatre Bryan Bailey was the first director of the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. After the development of a new public space, it was returned here in 2009 [19]


Other city centre areas edit

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Coventry Cross Cuckoo Lane, Coventry (until 2021). Broadgate (from 2023)

52°24′30″N 1°30′31″W / 52.408197°N 1.508581°W / 52.408197; -1.508581
1976 - 2021, 2023 George Wagstaffe Market cross Ferro-concrete, Hollington stone, anodised aluminium, fibreglass Coventry City Council [2] Removed and dismantled between 2019 and 2021. Replaced by a new replica in 2023. [20]
  Mary and Jesus St Mary's Priory and Cathedral ruins

52°24′32″N 1°30′31″W / 52.40892°N 1.50849°W / 52.40892; -1.50849
2001 (2001) Statue Bronze Coventry City Council
  Rebuilding Coventry and the Co-op's Activities Co-operative Society Building – Corporation Street, Coventry

52°24′33″N 1°30′51″W / 52.409167°N 1.514065°W / 52.409167; -1.514065
1956 (1956) John Skelton incised line drawings on several of the columns Hornton stone 366cm x 61cm Coventry City Council [2] [21]
  Coventry's Industries Lower Precinct, Coventry

52°24′30″N 1°30′53″W / 52.408212°N 1.514687°W / 52.408212; -1.514687
1958 (1958) and 1961 Arthur Ling Panels Neon tubes 200cm x 300cm approx. Coventry City Council The clock panel (pictured) is permanently lit, the other panels are lit in the evening.[2] [22]
Growth of the City Sainsbury's – Trinity Street, Coventry

52°24′35″N 1°30′32″W / 52.409777°N 1.509011°W / 52.409777; -1.509011
1964 (1964) John Skelton diagrammatic map Swedish pearl granite, part painted 335cm x 275cm Coventry City Council [2] [23] Not visible on the outside of the building
  Resting Kestrel Millennium Green, Canley Ford. 2000 Walenty Pytel 10' Commissioned by:-Friends of Canley Ford.


Coventry Ring Road edit

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Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Notes
  Untitled Sculpture Lamb Street, Coventry (near Ringway St Nicholas)

52°24′42″N 1°30′48″W / 52.411803°N 1.513362°W / 52.411803; -1.513362
1973 (1973) John Bridgeman Sculpture Resin, bronze powder Sculpture: 219cm high x 65cm wide x 30cm deep. Pedestal: 26cm high x 112cm wide x 94cm deep Coventry City Council [2] An organically shaped abstract sculpture coloured in muted tones. [24]
  Coventry Martyrs Memorial Ringway, St Patrick's, Coventry

52°24′13″N 1°30′30″W / 52.403567°N 1.50821°W / 52.403567; -1.50821
1910 (1910) G. Maile and Sons Granite and metal Coventry City Council [2] The memorial is in the form of a Celtic wheelhead cross, mounted on a stepped plinth. [25]


Coventry Canal edit

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James Brindley Coventry Canal Basin

52°24′48″N 1°30′42″W / 52.413342°N 1.511626°W / 52.413342; -1.511626
1998 (1998) James Butler Statue Bronze Coventry City Council [26]
  Canal Basin Mosaic Coventry Canal Basin

52°24′48″N 1°30′44″W / 52.41347°N 1.512162°W / 52.41347; -1.512162
1997 (1997) Rosalind Wates mosaic Unglazed ceramic tiles Coventry City Council [26]
  Lock Gates Foleshill roundabout, Junction 1 of the Ring Road

52°24′47″N 1°30′36″W / 52.41315°N 1.51008°W / 52.41315; -1.51008
1997 (1997) Ondré Nowakowski Oak Coventry City Council [26]
  Entry and Parapet Markers Six freestanding and four parapet markers at various locations from Canal Basin to Hawkesbury Junction 1999 (1999) Jon Mills Painted galvanised steel Coventry City Council [26]
 
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The Journeyman Leicester Row, north of Bridge No 1 1999 (1999) Stephen Hitchin Steel, cast bronze Coventry City Council [26]
  Wave Seat Leicester Row, north of Bridge No 1 1998 (1998) Michael Grevatte Hornton stone Coventry City Council [26]
  Daimler Heritage Marker Canalside, opposite Sandy Lane Business Park

52°25′01″N 1°30′42″W / 52.41703°N 1.51164°W / 52.41703; -1.51164
1997 (1997) Robert Crutchley Bronze, granite Coventry City Council [2]
  The Coil Adjacent to Prince William Henry Bridge

52°25′23″N 1°30′13″W / 52.42298°N 1.50372°W / 52.42298; -1.50372
1997 (1997) Frank Triggs Sweet chestnut Coventry City Council [26]
  'Pleasure Craft'. Tom Mann Close, off Lady Lane

52°27′08″N 1°29′14″W / 52.452190°N 1.487338°W / 52.452190; -1.487338
1997 Tim Shutter Public Art Stanton Moor Sandstone 111 x 178 x 195 cm Coventry City Council [26] The work depicts a stone sofa with integral oar rack on a stone raft, ready to be launched into the canal.
  Wings Over Water Hawksbury Bridge 2000 Walenty Pytel Galvanized Steel Wings over Water Gateway sculpture on canal footbridge

Commissioned by:-Coventry City Council, Groundwork Company. Hawkesbury Junction, Coventry.


Foleshill edit

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Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Notes
Foleshill Blue Ribbon On roundabout at junction of Foleshill Road and A444

52°26′09″N 1°29′39″W / 52.435748982710244°N 1.4941676740346712°W / 52.435748982710244; -1.4941676740346712
1997 (1997) Andrew Dwyer Sculpture Steel Height 10.67 m Coventry City Council Represents the ribbon industry in Coventry. Original design by William Farrell, a student from Foxford School

References

  1. ^ "St Michael and the Devil". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Noszlopy, George (2003). Public Sculpture of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 0-85323-847-2.
  3. ^ "The Enfolding". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  4. ^ @C20WestMids (5 May 2018). "Naiad was the first post war commission of public art for the City, the sculpture won the highly regarded prize for Young Contemporaries at the ICA and appropriately was created by famous artist and Coventry Kid, George Wagstaffe" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "The James Starley (1830–1881) Memorial". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  6. ^ "The Thomas White (d.1566) Memorial". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  7. ^ "The return of Trigger to Greyfriars Green". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Coventry's Bucephalus horse sculpture restored". BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  9. ^ "The People of Coventry". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
  10. ^ Architects, PCPT (30 January 2019). "Broadgate House, Coventry". PCPT Architects. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Phoenix". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Thread Through Time". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Sir Guy and the Dun Cow". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Coventry Boy". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  15. ^ "Basilica". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Phoenix Tree sculpture designed by Blitz survivor unveiled in Coventry University's new peace garden". Coventry University. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Statue unveiled in new Coventry peace garden". BBC CWR. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Belgrade". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Bryan Bailey sculpture restored outside Belgrade Theatre". Coventry Telegraph.
  20. ^ "Modern Coventry replica of ancient landmark unveiled". BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Rebuilding Coventry and the Co-op's Activities". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  22. ^ "Coventry's Industries". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  23. ^ "Growth of the City". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  24. ^ "Untitled Sculpture". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  25. ^ "The Coventry Martyrs Memorial". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h "Coventry Canal Art Trail". Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2012.