Angel of the North

sculpture by Gormley

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The Angel of the North is a contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley, unveiled in 1998. It is made of steel and stands 65 feet (20 meters) tall with a 175-foot (54-meter) wingspan, making it the largest sculpture ever executed in Britain. The sculpture is located near Gateshead, England, dominating the skyline south of the River Tyne. Gormley is known for his works featuring human forms, often created from casts of his own body, exploring the human presence in the world. The Angel of the North is one of his most recognizable pieces, though he has created numerous other figural installations in various landscapes and cityscapes worldwide.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Antony Gormley
…best known for the enormous Angel of the North (1998; near Gateshead, England), some 65 feet (20 metres) high and having a 175-foot (54-metre) span. He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1997 and was included in the New Year Honours List for…
Read More
…best known for the enormous Angel of the North (1998; near Gateshead, England), some 65 feet (20 metres) high and having a 175-foot (54-metre) span. He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1997 and was included in the New Year Honours List for…
Read More

England
Sculpture
…executed in Britain was unveiled—Angel of the North, created by Antony Gormley. Made of steel, 65 feet (20 metres) high, and with a 169-foot (52-metre) span, it dominates the skyline near Gateshead, south of the River Tyne.
Read More
…executed in Britain was unveiled—Angel of the North, created by Antony Gormley. Made of steel, 65 feet (20 metres) high, and with a 169-foot (52-metre) span, it dominates the skyline near Gateshead, south of the River Tyne.
Read More