Locust
- Artist: Alison Wilding
- Date: 1983
- Medium: Copper, oak and lead
- Dimensions: object: 2080 x 700 x 420 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
“This is *Locust* by Alison Wilding.” This free‑standing sculpture uses a single copper sheet wrapped tightly around an oak post that’s hidden from view until the metal splits at the top. The copper surface bears a rich patina of bright green, black and dark brown tones, giving it a weathered look while still catching light.
The upper edge of the copper is cut into two wing‑like forms—an exuberant flourish that contrasts with the slender totem shape the sheet covers. Below, the post rests on a lead base, weighted for stability; the exposed top is waxed, adding a glossy black finish where the metal opens.
Wilding produced this in 1983, early in her career as part of the New British Sculptors movement. She was already exploring contrasts between materials and forms—copper over wood, leading to a dual surface that feels both wrapped and revealed.
The work’s dimensions are roughly 2 m high by 0.7 m wide, giving it a vertical presence that invites viewers to look up and down at the same time. In *Locust*, Wilding merges metal, oak and lead into a single, slightly mysterious object that speaks of concealment and exposure—all in one harmonious gesture.
See it in person
Locust is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
