Flight by Tom Merrifield, Bronze. Edition 2 of 5, 374cm high by 374cm wide. Body. Classical. Female. Figurative. Nude. People. Performing Arts. Women sculpture
Flight by Tom Merrifield is a monumental garden sculpture cast in bronze and incorporating stainless steel. The piece stands approximately 3.7 meters tall and wide, making it a striking presence in an outdoor space. It depicts a female ballet dancer captured mid-leap in a jeté, with arms and legs fully extended and her body arched gracefully. The figure is supported by an elegant, sweeping curved structure that gives the impression of movement, lift, and flight.
The sculpture emphasizes dynamism and poise: despite being cast in heavy materials, the dancer seems to float effortlessly, creating a sense of weightlessness. The interplay of the solid bronze figure with the negative space created by the arching support accentuates the drama of the leap and allows the viewer to engage with the form from multiple angles. Light and shadow play across the surface, further enhancing the illusion of motion.
Symbolically, the title Flight captures both the literal airborne pose of the dancer and the metaphorical sense of aspiration and transcendence. Merrifield, a former classical dancer turned sculptor, infuses his deep understanding of the human body in motion into the work, allowing the sculpture to convey both elegance and energy. The curved support, reminiscent of a ribbon or trajectory, reinforces the sensation of soaring through space and captures a fleeting moment in time, frozen in bronze and steel.
Designed for outdoor placement, Flight invites viewers to experience it from multiple perspectives. From the front, the leap and grace of the dancer dominate; from the side, the sweep of the curve emphasizes the arc and direction of motion; from underneath, the figure appears even more elevated, almost defying gravity. The piece combines technical mastery with expressive beauty, celebrating the human figure at its most dynamic and the transformative power of movement.
Now installed at The Sculpture Park, Flight by Tom Merrifield, is admired by thousands of people in its full glory. If you wish to purchase the piece, The Sculpture Park team are able to arrange the full removal and installation.
