Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North, the UK’s most famous piece of public art, first spread its wings in February 1998. At 54m wide and 20m high, (taller than four double-decker buses and with a wingspan as big as a jumbo jet), the Angel of the North is said to be the largest angel sculpture in the world. The iconic sculpture stands on a hill at Low Eighton in Lamesley parish and is visited by 150,000 people a year. The site is promoted by NewcastleGateshead Initiative with a mission to inspire people to visit and to live, learn, work, and invest in Newcastle, Gateshead.
Standing bright red atop a hillside, the enormous statue is visible from a wider area in Newcastle. It is visible from the A1 and A167 roads at Low Fell, as well as from the East Coast Main Line. There is a small car park off Durham Road and a short walk takes you to the foot of the statue. It is free to visit and accessible all day long.
Amazing Facts:
- It is believed to be the largest angel sculpture in the world
- Its 54-meter (175 foot) wingspan is bigger than a Boeing 757 or 767 jet
- It can withstand winds of more than 100 miles per hour
- It will last for more than 100 years
Antony Gormley
Internationally renowned sculptor Antony Gormley designed the sculpture. He has exhibited work around the world and has major public works in the USA, Japan, Australia, Norway and Eire. Public work in Britain can be seen in locations as diverse as the crypt at Winchester Cathedral and Birmingham City Centre. In 1994, he won the prestigious Turner Prize and in 1997 was awarded the OBE for services to sculpture. He has exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Gallery, British Museum, and the Henry Moore Sculpture Gallery in Leeds.
A perfect weekend gateway, the Angel of the North is just an 8-minute drive away from the Embassy Hotel.
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