---
title: "“Lady in Blue”: Chabala Self’s sculpture appears on the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square"
description: "Chabala Self’s bronze sculpture “Lady in Blue” has been installed on the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square — an anonymous Black woman in a lapis-lazuli dress, stepping forward. The work becomes the 16th in the public art programme and will remain on the plinth for two years."
date: 2026-09-11T10:20:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/lady-in-blue-chabala-self-trafalgar-square-fourth-plinth
tags: [lady-in-blue, chabala-self, trafalgar-square, fourth-plinth, public-art, london, sculpture, contemporary-art]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# “Lady in Blue”: Chabala Self’s sculpture appears on the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square

![Chabala Selph's sculpture 'Lady in Blue' on the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square, London, with the National Gallery in the background](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/11/lady-in-blue-chabala-self-trafalgar-skver/lady-in-blue-chabala-self-trafalgar-skver-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Chabala Self’s sculpture “Lady in Blue” has been installed on the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square and will be displayed for two years
- The work depicts an anonymous Black woman in a lapis-lazuli dress, symbolising movement forward and optimism
- It is the 16th work in the Fourth Plinth public art programme, founded by the Royal Society of Arts
- The artist emphasises that the sculpture should not be perceived exclusively through the prism of racial or gender identity

A new public sculpture — “Lady in Blue” by American artist Chabala Self — has been installed on Trafalgar Square in London. The bronze work has taken up the famous Fourth Plinth, where, by the organisers’ plan, it will be displayed for the next two years. The sculpture depicts an anonymous young Black woman in a form-fitting dress of a rich lapis-lazuli hue, wearing high heels and jewellery made of glass beads. Her hair is braided, and the figure is captured in the moment of a confident step forward — it is precisely this movement that forms the central visual and conceptual core of the composition.

### A symbol of movement, not a static monument

Chabala Self emphasises that her work deliberately departs from the tradition of monumental sculpture turned towards the past. “She is not static. She has a desire to move,” the artist explains. In her words, the aim was to create a figure embodying courage, optimism and movement towards the future, rather than the memorialisation of a specific historical person. Self hopes that the image of a woman confidently stepping forward will become, for viewers, a metaphor for the possibility of moving on in their own lives.

### The lapis-lazuli colour and the details of the image

The sculpture is distinguished by its thoughtful detailing. The heroine’s dress is executed in a lapis-lazuli shade — a colour inspired by the rare mineral that has been used for centuries as a pigment in painting and decorative arts. The image is complemented by braided hair, glass beads on the neck and wrists, and high-heeled shoes with a distinctive pattern. All the elements form the portrait of a contemporary woman endowed with a striking character, yet not tied to any specific historical biography.

### The context of the Fourth Plinth and public art

“Lady in Blue” has become the 16th work installed on the Fourth Plinth as part of the public art programme founded by the Royal Society of Arts. The project is now supported by the Mayor of London, Arts Council England and the Bloomsbury charity. The choice of an anonymous, non-historical figure against the backdrop of the classical monuments of Trafalgar Square — Nelson, Rodin, the previous plinth sculptures — makes the work particularly striking: it addresses the future, whereas the surrounding architecture and monuments largely fix the past.

### The representation of Black women in public art

The installation of the sculpture draws attention to the question of the representation of Black women in British public art. At the same time, Self notes that she would not want her work to be perceived exclusively through the prism of racial or gender identity. For the artist, the sculpture is above all an image of a person who has the right simply to exist as they are — without any obligatory tie to a social or political category.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [A symbol of movement forward: a new “Lady in Blue” sculpture appears in central London](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/culture/simvol-ruhu-vpered-tsentri-londona-z-yavilasya-1789121108.html) - Единственный релевантный источник. Содержит полное описание скульптуры, цитаты художницы, контекст программы Четвёртого плинта. Факты согласованы с основным текстом.
- [A new Banksy sculpture appears in central London](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/ckgpvk9nvz5o) - Источник описывает другое событие — установку работы Бэнкси в Лондоне. Не подтверждает и не противоречит фактам статьи о «Леди в голубом».
- [A statue with a Banksy signature appears in central London](https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/69f364339a79479fcbbeebd0) - Также относится к событию с Бэнкси, а не к скульптуре Чабалалы Селф. Не является источником по данной теме.
- [Banksy installs a sculpture in central London](https://expert.ru/news/benksi-ustanovil-skulpturu-v-tsentre-londona) - Третья ссылка на событие с Бэнкси. Не содержит информации о «Леди в голубом».

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Who is the author of the “Lady in Blue” sculpture on Trafalgar Square?
**A:** The bronze sculpture was created by the American artist Chabala Self.

### Q: How long will the sculpture stand on the Fourth Plinth?
**A:** According to the source, the work will be displayed on the Fourth Plinth for two years.

### Q: Why is the sculpture’s dress specifically lapis-lazuli in colour?
**A:** The artist was inspired by the rare mineral lapis lazuli, which has been used as a pigment in art for centuries.

### Q: Is “Lady in Blue” a monument to a specific historical figure?
**A:** No. Chabala Self emphasises that the figure is anonymous and not linked to any specific historical biography. The sculpture symbolises movement forward and a person’s right simply to exist.

### Q: What is the Fourth Plinth and who supports the programme?
**A:** The Fourth Plinth is a public art platform on Trafalgar Square, founded by the Royal Society of Arts. The project is now supported by the Mayor of London, Arts Council England and the Bloomsbury charity. “Lady in Blue” has become the 16th work in this programme.