For anyone looking for marble garden sculpture in the UK, Are You Looking Up by Zak Stevens is a contemporary piece in white marble with gold kintsugi, photographed here on a garden lawn. It is available at £8,000. Whether it suits a particular garden depends on the site, so it is worth asking Zak about outdoor placement before deciding.
A contemporary garden sculpture in white marble
Are You Looking Up sets a tall female form above a small companion figure at the back of the plinth, who looks up at her. She has a body but no head or arms. He has a head and arms but no body. Against grass and planting, the white stone reads clearly from a distance, and the gold lines along its veins show as you come closer.
Figure, companion and carved marble plinth are offered as a single work for £8,000. Dimensions and weight are available on request.
How marble behaves outdoors
Marble is made mostly of calcite, which dissolves very slowly in rainwater because rain is naturally slightly acidic. Over years, a polished surface outdoors will soften and dull. This is gradual and is part of how stone ages in the open.
Frost is the other consideration. Where water can get into a crack or open vein and then freeze, it expands and can widen the opening. Damp, shaded positions also encourage algae, moss and lichen, and fallen leaves or bird droppings can stain the surface if left.
Choosing marble garden sculpture in the UK
A wet climate with regular frost asks more of stone than a dry one, and anyone choosing marble garden sculpture in the UK should plan for both. Choosing a site with care does more for a piece than any treatment applied afterwards.
Whatever the piece, these points are worth settling before it arrives.
- A firm, level base that will not settle or tilt over time
- Good drainage, so water does not collect around the foot
- Some shelter from the worst weather, if the site allows
- Where the light falls, as low morning or evening sun shows form best
- Access for delivery, and how the weight will be handled
- Whether the piece should be fixed in place
Modern garden sculpture and its setting
Modern garden sculpture works best when it has room around it. A single figure at the end of a lawn, against a hedge or framed by trees, gives the eye somewhere to rest and changes with the season and the light.
An abstracted figure suits this kind of setting. Without a face to read, it is seen first as a shape against the planting, and then, at closer range, as a body carved by hand from stone.
Care through the seasons
Gentle care is best. Rinse with clean water and use a soft brush to lift dirt or early growth, with a little pH-neutral soap if needed. Avoid bleach, acidic products, wire brushes and pressure washers, all of which can damage the surface.
For anything specific to Are You Looking Up outdoors, including whether a particular position suits it and how the gold kintsugi should be looked after, write to Zak at hello@zakstevens.art.
Questions
Can marble statues stay outside in winter?
Sound marble generally can, but frost is a risk wherever water can enter cracks or open veins. A well-drained, slightly sheltered spot helps. For Are You Looking Up, ask Zak before leaving it out through winter.
How do you protect a marble statue outside?
Site it on a firm, level, well-drained base, keep it clear of leaves and debris, and clean it gently with water and a soft brush. Avoid acidic or harsh cleaners.
Where should a garden sculpture be placed?
Somewhere it can be seen from the house or along a path, with space around it and a background, such as a hedge or lawn, that lets the form stand out.
Can Are You Looking Up be placed outdoors?
It is shown in a garden setting, but the right answer depends on your site. Write to Zak at hello@zakstevens.art to discuss where you would like it to stand.