New Fourth Plinth sculpture by Tschabalala Self to be unveiled in Trafalgar Square this September
A new public artwork will take its place on London’s Fourth Plinth this autumn, as New York artist Tschabalala Self prepares to unveil her latest sculpture in Trafalgar Square.
The Mayor of London has announced that Lady in Blue will be revealed on 10 September 2026, becoming the 16th commission since the Fourth Plinth programme began in 1998. The work will replace Mil Veces un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant) by Teresa Margolles, which currently occupies the site.
Created in bronze and finished with a lapis lazuli blue patina, Lady in Blue depicts a young metropolitan woman. According to the announcement, the sculpture was conceived as a tribute to a contemporary “everywoman”, reflecting the diverse communities that make up modern London.
Lapis lazuli has been used as a prized artistic pigment since ancient times, giving the sculpture its distinctive blue finish.
Self was selected for the commission in March 2024 by the independent Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, chaired by Ekow Eshun OBE. More than 10,000 public comments were submitted during consultation on the shortlisted proposals, with the feedback helping to inform the group’s decision.
The artist, who was born in New York in 1990, works across painting, printmaking and sculpture. Her practice frequently explores representations of the human figure, particularly women, through a combination of sewn, printed and painted materials. She continues to live and work in New York.
The unveiling will also form part of London Sculpture Week, which runs from 19 to 27 September 2026. The annual city-wide programme brings together several public art initiatives across the capital, including Frieze Sculpture, Sculpture in the City, East Bank, The Line and the Fourth Plinth programme.
The Fourth Plinth has become one of London’s best-known public art commissions since the first work, Ecce Homo by Mark Wallinger, was installed in 1999. New sculptures are typically commissioned every two years, with artists invited to create original works specifically for Trafalgar Square.
The next commission has already been confirmed, with a sculpture by Andra Ursuţa scheduled to be unveiled in 2028.
The Fourth Plinth programme is funded by the Mayor of London with support from Arts Council England and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
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