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Thursday, December 25, 2025 |
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| A 10-tonne marble Triceratops arrives in Mayfair as a new public art landmark |
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Carved from a single 10-tonne block of white Carrara marble, the spectacular figurative work is an artistic interpretation of the iconic three horned and frilled dinosaur which stands at 3.2 metres tall.
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LONDON.- A monumental new landmark arrived in Mayfair - a world first, life-sized marble Triceratops skull sculpture, created by British artist Paul Vanstone in collaboration with leading natural history and antiquities gallery David Aaron Ltd. Titled Carrara Triceratops Skull, 2025, the public artwork is now on display in Berkeley Square as part of the Berkeley Square Public Art Programme, bringing natural history into the heart of London for the local community and visitors to experience for free.
Carved from a single 10-tonne block of white Carrara marble, the spectacular figurative work is an artistic interpretation of the iconic three horned and frilled dinosaur which stands at 3.2 metres tall. Positioned at the north end of the Square, the sculpture will remain on display for two years, replacing the much-loved bronze juvenile Tyrannosaurus Rex that previously occupied the site. Vanstone created the work over 60 days and took inspiration from a 68-million-year-old sub-adult Triceratops Skull exhibited by David Aaron at Frieze Masters 2025.
The installation is a unique collaboration between David Aaron and sculptor Paul Vanstone, uniting natural history with contemporary artistic practice. Vanstone, a former assistant to Anish, is celebrated for transforming monumental stone into works of extraordinary presence and sensitivity. Vanstones work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, including the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum, and for the past 15 years has exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with his last four presentations receiving a coveted Five Star Award.
Paul Vanstone, sculptor said: "The sculpture is the same size as a sub-adult triceratops, the idea that these creatures walked this planet, charging at this angle, you get a strong sense of their presence on this planet. I wanted to portray their great scale and power.
Jonathan Aaron, Director of David Aaron said: "We are thrilled to collaborate with the talented Paul Vanstone on this remarkable Triceratops sculpture. This installation serves to promote public access to art and the wonders of the prehistoric natural world in Westminsters Berkeley square."
Carrara Triceratops Skull enforces Westminster City Councils commitment to creative placemaking and public art; free landmarks such as this bring world-class cultural experiences into the daily lives of residents and visitors and enrich the citys streetscape.
Cllr Patrick Lilley, West End Ward Councillor, Westminster City Council said: I am thrilled to see this amazing public art take its rightful place in the heart of Mayfair for all to see. I am grateful to David Aaron gallery for their passion and dedication to this project and all the teams of Westminster Council who helped facilitate this. Its absolutely wonderful.
David Aaron is a specialist in important items of natural history, including large scale dinosaur fossils, and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of provenance, research and conservation of these prehistoric specimens.
Dinosaurs continue to hold a unique position in the public imagination, embodying both awe and nostalgia. This collaboration between David Aaron and Paul Vanstone brings the monumental presence of a Triceratops into the heart of London, offering a bold reimagining of prehistoric form through modern craftsmanship.
Sculptor Paul Vanstone carves from Marble and Onyx, the nature of the material dictating how each piece evolves. Vanstone studied sculpture at Central Saint Martins before completing an MFA in Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1993. Following his studies, he worked in Italy at the renowned marble carving studios near the Carrara quarries, as well as in Berlin and Rajasthan, then spent five years working as an assistant to leading British sculptor Anish Kapoor.
Vanstones work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, including the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum, as well as in prominent sculpture gardens and public installations. For the past 15 years, Vanstone has exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with his last four presentations receiving a coveted Five Star Award. He regularly exhibits at LAPADA, On Form, Falconhurst, Hannah Peschar Sculpture Park and has received several prestigious awards and commissions, including the Henry Moore Award.
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