Work in Progress… by Wilfred Pritchard, Metal, Unique, 263cm high by 120cm wide by 120cm deep, Abstract, Aeroplane, Transportation sculpture

Work in Progress… by Wilfred Pritchard is a monumental and unique outdoor sculpture that transforms industrial engineering into contemporary art. Standing 263cm high and 120cm wide, this piece takes the form of a metal jet engine, reimagined as a towering vase. Upright and solidly secured, the sculpture carries both the weight of machinery and the elegance of a vessel.

Pritchard’s approach blends abstraction with familiarity. At first glance, the engine retains its mechanical identity, its curves and ridges still echoing its industrial origins. Yet, as the eye moves upward, the form shifts. It opens like a vase, creating an entirely new purpose. This tension between machine and vessel keeps the viewer’s attention moving back and forth.

Moreover, the sheer scale of the work demands presence. Its height gives it a monumental quality, while its cylindrical form draws the eye upward. Outdoors, light and weather interact with the surface, constantly altering its character. The sculpture feels dynamic despite its solid frame.

The title, Work in Progress…, adds another layer. It suggests transition and evolution, as though the piece exists between function and reinvention. The engine is no longer a machine of speed and power. Instead, it becomes a vessel for imagination, standing proudly as both relic and sculpture.

In this way, Pritchard’s work is bold and playful. It questions purpose, celebrates scale, and redefines material. The result is a striking fusion of industry and artistry, an object both familiar and wholly transformed.