A bold new statue inspired by the legendary Maid Marian is heading to Nottingham city centre — and locals are being invited to help bring it to life.
The eye‑catching artwork is being created by acclaimed artist Alicja Biała, known for her striking large‑scale sculptures and paintings in public spaces across Europe. The piece will be unveiled this summer as part of the ongoing transformation of Maid Marian Way.
The Maid Marian statue will stand in a newly created rain garden at the corner of Maid Marian Way and Upper Parliament Street, marking a major gateway into the city and welcoming pedestrians and drivers alike.
But this won’t be a traditional statue.
The artwork will take the form of a human silhouette made entirely from cast-metal fragments, representing Maid Marian. Each piece will be created using cast bronze foliage from native Nottinghamshire plants, including English oak, silver birch, hawthorn, bluebell, common nettle and alpine pennycress.
The sculpture will be placed on a sandstone boulder plinth, grounding it firmly in Nottingham — and quite literally rooting Maid Marian in her home city.
Thanks to its fragmented design, the statue will appear to change depending on light, weather and viewpoint.
Work on the statue will take place this spring and summer, with local residents invited to take part through a series of community workshops. Full details on how to get involved will be announced later this spring.
They will be asked to forage 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.
Further details will follow from 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.
The artwork forms part of the £8.9 million, Government‑funded transformation of Maid Marian Way, completed in autumn 2025. The project aimed to improve travel through the area while creating greener spaces and a more welcoming city centre entrance.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Nottingham City Council’s Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport, said the statue was the final touch on a major regeneration scheme.
“The Maid Marian Way project wasn’t just about making it easier to travel through the area — it was about regenerating an important gateway into the city,” she said.
“With new trees and wildflowers already flourishing, we’re delighted to add a stunning new statue inspired by Maid Marian.”
Artist Alicja Biała said she wanted to reimagine Maid Marian for a modern Nottingham.
“I see Maid Marian not as a fixed figure from the past, but as a living presence shaped by landscape, folklore and values,” she said.
“Every plant used has been chosen for its link to local stories, healing traditions and ecological importance.”
City partners say the sculpture will become a new cultural landmark — celebrating Nottingham’s legends, creativity and strong sense of community.
