News / University of Bristol
Bristol Uni commissions UK’s first public sculpture of a Black woman made by a Black woman
The University of Bristol has commissioned artist Helen Wilson Roe to create a sculpture of Henrietta Lacks, whose human cells were the first ever to survive and multiply outside the body.
The piece will be the first public sculpture of a Black woman made by a Black woman in the UK and will be installed on the university’s campus later this year.
Henrietta’s cells formed the first scientifically defined ‘immortal’ human cell line, opening the door to all kinds of experiments and research on cell behaviour.
is needed now More than ever
Her cells changed the course of modern medicine, making possible some of the most important medical advances of all time including the development of the polio vaccine, chemotherapy, gene-mapping, IVF and cloning.
One hundred years after her birth, Henrietta’s cells are also currently being used in Covid-19 research in the university.
Helen Wilson Roe at the unveiling of her portrait of Henrietta Lacks – currently on display outside the Great Hall of the Wills Memorial Building. Photo: Bhagesh Sachania Photography
Wilson Roe said: “To have the University of Bristol commission me as a Black female Bristolian artist to create a life size bronze statue of an iconic Black woman to be placed in the University of Bristol’s grounds, will be history in the making.
“This is the university offering more than lip service or tokenistic gestures, but actually committing to supporting a Black female artist by sustaining my art and recognising Henrietta Lacks.
“As a child growing up in Bristol there were no statues of Black women that I could identify with so knowing that my children and their grandchildren and great grandchildren will be able to see Henrietta’s statue in Bristol is just fantastic especially at this time when Bristol is starting to address its past.”
Bristol lord mayor Cleo Lake helps artist Helen Wilson-Roe hang her painting of Henrietta Lacks in the lord mayor’s parlour in 2018 – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Karen Brett
Read more: New painting in lord mayor’s parlour recognises a scientific immortal
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