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Angel of the North

Angel of the North is a contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. Completed in 1998, it is made from COR-TEN weathering steel, which gives it a distinctive rusty, oxidised appearance. The sculpture is based on Gormley’s own body and features vertical ribs on its body and wings that act as an external skeleton. Commissioned by Gateshead Council, it was manufactured and assembled by Hartlepool Steel Fabrications and installed on 14 February 1998. Seen by an estimated 33 million people each year from nearby roads and the East Coast Main Line, it is now widely recognised as an iconic symbol of Gateshead and the North East.

The Angel of the North sculpture stands on a grassy hill with outstretched wings under a clear blue sky.
The Angel of the North rises above a grassy hill beside a dirt path.
November 1999 © Bah je sais pas, je dirai 2-3 metres? · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Angel of the North sculpture stands on a grassy hill beside a paved path with people walking toward it under a blue sky.
The Angel of the North rises above a grassy hillside, with visitors walking along the path below.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Angel of the North sculpture stands on a green hill with people walking near its base under a clear blue sky.
The Angel of the North rises above the hillside, with visitors walking around its base.
January 2004 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Angel of the North sculpture standing on a grassy hill against a cloudy sky.
The Angel of the North rises above a grassy hill under an overcast sky.
March 2011 © · CC BY 2.0
The Angel of the North silhouetted against a bright sky, with small figures near its base.
The Angel of the North stands in dramatic silhouette against the sunlit sky.
© · Public domain

Identification

TitleAngel of the North
TypeModern sculpture
Original-language titleDer Engel des Nordens
Alternative namesAnioł Północy; L'Angelo del Nord; Ангел Севера; The Gateshead Flasher; Gateshead exhibitionist

Creator

ArtistAntony Gormley
Artist nationalityEnglish
DesignerAntony Gormley

Historical context

Earlier related projectBrick Man, a proposed brick sculpture in Leeds, was discussed before Angel of the North but never built
Educational outreachA two-year series of educational events with 30 schools and 1,400 children
FundingMostly funded by the UK National Lottery; additional funding from Arts Council England (£584,000), the European Regional Development Fund (£150,000), Northern Arts (£45,000), and private sponsorship
CostClose to £1 million
Full council approval vote41–14 in favour
Planning committee vote15–5 in favour
Planning vote date4 January 1995
Reception during planningFaced opposition
Proposed site descriptionA former colliery overlooking the varied topography of the Tyne and Wear Lowlands National Character Area
Site inspirationAfter visiting the proposed site, Gormley compared it to a megalithic burial chamber
Proposed siteEighton Lodge
Intended meaningA millennial image and a marker and guardian for the town
Planned purposeTo act as a new landmark for the southern approach into Gateshead and Tyneside near the A1 and A167 interchange
Project preparation start1994
Project start1979
Intended completion date1996
Commission dateAugust 1994
Commissioning bodyGateshead Council's Art in Public Places panel, the Libraries & Arts and Planning & Engineering Departments, and Northern Arts
Commissioned byGateshead Council
Date created1994–1998
InspirationAntony Gormley's series The Case for an Angel

Discovery and provenance

Transport methodTransported by road to the installation site overnight
Official opening date15 February 1998
InstallationErected the next morning after overnight transport
Transport date14 February 1998
Creation siteHartlepool, County Durham
Fabricated byHartlepool Steel Fabrications

Physical characteristics

Wind resistanceDesigned to withstand wind speeds of over 160 km/h
Foundation material165 tonnes of concrete
Foundation weight500 tonnes
FoundationConcrete pile foundation anchored 20 metres below the sculpture
Structural featureVertical ribs on the body and wings
Number of parts3
Each wing weight55 tonnes
Body weight110 tonnes
Mass208 tonnes
Wingspan54 metres
Height20 metres

Materials

MaterialCOR-TEN weathering steel
Foundation materialConcrete

Appearance

Relative size noteWider than the Statue of Liberty is tall
PoseAn angel standing upright with open wings
Wing angleWings tilted 3.5 degrees forward
AppearanceRusty, oxidised brown colour

Iconography and meaning

SubjectAn angel
Design basisGormley's own body
Wing interpretationThe angled wings are meant to suggest an embrace
Intended meaningTo recall the industrial past of Northern England

Location and ownership

LocationGateshead, Tyne and Wear, England
Specific siteA hill south of Newcastle upon Tyne, at the junction of the A1 and A167 roads
SettingStands on a hill overlooking the A1 and A167 toward Tyneside and the East Coast Main Line railway
PlacementSouthern edge of a hill in Low Fell, on the outskirts of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
View directionOverlooks Tyneside and the East Coast Main Line railway

History and restoration

Initial reactionControversial on installation; opposed by some local residents and in the British press
Later receptionGained supporters over time

Significance

Current recognitionWidely recognised as an iconic public artwork and a symbol of Gateshead and North East England
Claimed statusConsidered the largest angel sculpture in the world
Nickname originDerived from its distinctive pose and contrast with the surrounding landscape