Icarus Rising II by Nicola Godden, Bronze, Edition of 6, 235 cm high (without base) by 200cm wide by 60cm deep, Figurative sculpture, Monumental Sculpture, Large Sculpture, Classical Mythology, Bird, sculpture
Icarus Rising II by Nicola Godden is a striking bronze sculpture, edition of six, measuring 235 cm high (without base), 200 cm wide, and 60 cm deep. It captures the mythical figure of Icarus at the very moment of ascension, his form soaring skyward. His wings, elongated and graceful, stretch wide, their tips anchoring the entire sculpture to the ground.
From the front, the figure appears powerful and determined. His chest lifts, his head tilts upward, and every line of his body conveys upward motion. Yet, as you circle the piece, the wings dominate the composition. The wings curving elegantly and creating a visual tension between strength and fragility. Their length not only frames Icarus but also supports the entire work, as if flight itself has become the foundation.
The bronze surface adds warmth and depth, catching light along the wings’ edges and accentuating the musculature of the figure. These shifts in tone draw the eye along the sweep of the wings and up the body, reinforcing the sculpture’s vertical energy.
Godden’s composition balances myth and realism. While the figure is anatomically precise, the exaggerated wings give the piece a dreamlike quality, as though it belongs both to earth and sky. Icarus Rising II feels alive, full of motion, ambition, and the eternal human desire to reach beyond limits. It invites viewers to share in the exhilaration of the moment just before flight’s triumph or tragedy.
