The Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation (NMSMF) is pleased to announce that the renowned sculptor Alan B Herriot has been selected to create the statue of Nelson Mandela in Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow.
The target date for the unveiling of the completed statue is 9 October 2026, the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s visit to Scotland when he collected the Freedoms of nine UK cities in 1993 in Glasgow.
Alan B Herriot was chosen following a competition which led to five artists being shortlisted to produce maquettes (models) for the statue. The maquettes went on display in Glasgow City Chambers for a public consultation which led to more than 500 responses. The public’s views along with the advice of an Evaluation Panel of professional experts went to a Judging Panel which made the recommendation to the NMSMF Board.
Sculptor Alan B Herriot has a considerable body of previous work including that of Robert
the Bruce in Aberdeen, the Ancient Mariner in Somerset, Wojtek in Edinburgh, the footballer
Jimmy Murphy at Manchester United and the boxer, Rinty Monaghan, in Belfast.
Brian Filling, NMSMF Chair and Honorary Consul for South Africa in Scotland, said,
“The statue of Nelson Mandela will commemorate his life of struggle and the solidarity of the
people of Scotland and the UK with the people of South Africa in their centuries long
struggle against colonialism and apartheid. Alan Herriot’s design for the sculpture captures
the essence of Mandela’s struggle, his strength and resilience in that struggle and, after his
release from 27 years in prison, his much-admired quest for reconciliation during and after
his Presidency of South Africa.
The statue will provide a focus for educational work about that history and its relevance to
the continuing struggle against racism and to show that a better world is possible for future
generations.”
Sculptor, Alan B Herriot, commented, “I am honoured to have been entrusted with this
commission and the privilege of crafting such a distinguished memorial for the City of
Glasgow. I am fully cognizant of the profound significance and historical importance of the
memorial, which will commemorate Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, anti
apartheid activist, and South Africa’s first black President. I eagerly anticipate collaborating
with the Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation to create this tribute, which will
undoubtedly bring immense pride to the City of Glasgow.”
The Lord Provost of Glasgow Jacqueline McLaren, said, “Congratulations to Alan for his
inspired design that clearly resonated with those who participated in the consultation process.
This statue will permanently honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy and keep alive, for younger
generations, the lessons of the anti-apartheid struggle. I look forward to seeing its installation
next year and marking Glasgow’s solidarity with this courageous revolutionary.”
For further information contact:
Brian Filling, Chair NMSMF
b.filling@btinternet.com
Issued by Janis Carson, NMSMF Project Manager
Email: jmgcarson@gmail.com