Ira Aldridge
2022
This sculpture, part of my Landmark series for Sky Arts, pays tribute to Ira Frederick Aldridge, a pioneering African-American actor and theatre manager whose extraordinary legacy is deeply interwoven into Coventry. Creating this piece was driven by the urgent need to reclaim a space of historical erasure, to give visibility to a figure whose contributions have too often been overlooked, and to remind us of the power of public art to shape collective memory, teach, engage with what the public wants.
Aldridge’s life embodies courage, excellence, and resistance. He moved to England to escape systemic racism and quickly rose on stages around Britain. By the age of 20, he became the first Black person to manage a Coventry theatre before slavery was abolished, holding the keys to the Theatre Royal in Coventry. While in the city, he used his platform to advocate against slavery. I was also inspired that he lived in crystal place an area not too far from my home, a person of leadership, and artistic brilliance in the face of oppression was truly someone to sculpt to encourage the community he once lived in that they can also make differences no matter thier background. working hard to do the thing you love can inspire others.
In the sculpture, Aldridge standing at 14 metere holds a fob watch, referencing Coventry’s historic watchmaking and mechanical district and symbolizing the passage of time, memory, and enduring influence. Positioned to face Spon End and near the Coventry Watch Museum, the piece anchors him within the city he onces lived and connects viewers to a tangible sense of history.
This work is important because it confronts historical omission and challenges us to reflect on whose stories are celebrated in public spaces. By embedding Aldridge in the urban landscape, the sculpture invites recognition, inspires curiosity, and fosters respect for a legacy that resonates far beyond theatre. It reminds us that public art is not only aesthetic it is a tool for social awareness, cultural dialogue, and enduring remembrance.