Nicola Anthony

I Will Rise

2023, UK

An installation of 7 ring sculptures. A series of three by Nicola Anthony, 2023

Medium: Stainless Steel (Marine Grade)
Total size as shown: 170cm (H) x 100cm (D) x 100cm (W)

7 individual sculptures which can be purchased individually or sets, from a series of 3 (plus 2 Artist’s Proofs)

Borrowing its title from a line in the poem ‘Still I rise’ by Maya Angelou, this artwork muses on human resilience in the face of hardship. In the creation of her work Nicola Anthony dives deep into literature, cultural and historical events to distil the essence that will eventually be portrayed through her art. For I will Rise, her research focused on literature, thinkers, and words that have guided society over the generations, or been synonymous with turning points in the pursuit of liberty and equality. Inspired by their words and in recognition of the role of artists and dreamers in shaping the world, the artist has penned her own sculptural poem.

This artwork explores the power of resilience and affirmation within the infinite cycle of life. The words reference times of conflict and struggle so we are reminded that there is often a need to find strength, to find a better way forward, to rise. It is this balance of confronting the darkness of life but bringing out hopefulness that has informed Anthony's artistic practice throughout her career.

In the full installation of 7 rings the artist imagined a spine or a ladder rising out of the dust, inspired by the powerful lines from Maya Angelo:

“Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise.”

Excerpt from Still I rise by Maya Angelou

Individual pieces and their featured text

(as seen top to bottom):

I Will Rise (A paradox blooms)
IN DEFEAT, A PARADOX BLOOMS: FOR VICTORY MAY YET UNFURL IN YOUR SOUL.

I Will Rise (Courageous heart)
IT’S ABOUT CULTIVATING A COURAGEOUS HEART. IT’S NOT ABOUT HAVING A STEEL BACKBONE,

I Will Rise (Just Like Moons, Like Suns)
I WILL RISE, JUST LIKE MOONS & LIKE SUNS

I Will Rise (Fighting a hard battle)
BE KIND, FOR EVERYONE YOU MEET IS FIGHTING A HARD BATTLE.

I Will Rise (The dreamer of dreams)
YOU ARE THE SPARK, YOU ARE THE DREAMER OF DREAMS.

I Will Rise (Bound by fate’s fabric)
FROM ONE ANCIENT PATH, BOUND BY FATE'S FABRIC, IN THIS WORLD WE ALL SHARE.

I Will Rise (I am a seed)
THEY MAY TRY TO BURY ME, BUT I AM NOT JUST ONE VOICE, I AM A SEED.

Acquire these ARTworks

To purchase these works contact Long-Sharp Gallery, USA or visit booth AM526 at Art Miami, Dec 2023