We are pleased to share that Yinka Shonibare has been named as one of the collaborators on the winning design team for the Queen Elizabeth II National Memorial in central London. The project is led by Foster + Partners, with landscape design by Michel Desvigne, and was selected through an international competition organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants.
Shonibare's contribution to the memorial will take the form of a Wind Sculpture, to be positioned in the Commonwealth Garden at St. James’s Park. Renowned for his work addressing themes of identity, colonial history, and cultural hybridity, Shonibare brings a significant and timely dimension to this major public commission.
The memorial has been conceived as a space for reflection and remembrance, honouring Queen Elizabeth II’s decades of public service. Shonibare’s involvement reflects a broader effort to acknowledge the complex histories that intersect with the monarchy and the Commonwealth.
Yinka Shonibare comments:
“I’m excited to be part of this commission for a national memorial celebrating the remarkable achievements of the late Queen. As a champion of the Commonwealth and the arts, particularly through her involvement with the Royal Academy, this project feels especially close to my heart. I very much look forward to contributing to this special project which celebrates her extraordinary impact as part of her long-lasting legacy.”
The final design will be unveiled in 2026, to coincide with what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027.