Date for next artwork to stand atop Fourth Plinth

The next statue to stand atop Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth will be unveiled in September.

Lady in Blue by New York-based artist Tschabalala Self is a bronze and blue homage to a young woman which she says "reflects many of today's Londoners".

It will replace Mil Veces un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant) by Teresa Margolles which is currently in place.

The Fourth Plinth is a well known art commission supported by the mayor of London, putting internationally renowned artists into the heart of London.

The artists are independently chosen by the Fourth Plinth commissioning group but the public were invited to have their say on the shortlist.

Fifteen works have been displayed on the plinth since 1999 when Mark Wallinger's Ecce Homo was installed.

Self said she had a desire to bring a contemporary every woman to Trafalgar Square.

Describing the statue, she said: "She is not an idol to venerate or a historic figurehead to commemorate. She is a woman striding forward into our collective future with ambition and purpose. She is a Londoner who represents the city's spirit."

The statue will be patinated with Lapis Lazuli blue, a rare and refined pigment.

"I have London to thank for many milestones in my practice.

"The city has truly supported my artistic development and is the best possible home for this powerful figure."

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