Nottingham’s newest public artwork – located outside East West Nottingham at Tollhouse Hill/ Upper Parliament Street – celebrates Maid Marian, a legendary figure from Nottinghamshire folklore, often associated with community, resistance, and care for the natural world. 

In this artwork by renowned artist Alicja Biała, Marian is reimagined through native plants, stories, and the people of Nottinghamshire. Plants used to create the sculpture include Nottingham catchfly, English oak, silver birch, hawthorn, bluebell and common nettle, species connected to the ecology and folklore of Nottinghamshire woodlands. 

Left to right – artist Alicja Biała, Councillor Sam Lux and daughter Cleo, Suzanne Golden of BACKLIT

Maid Marian stands on a sandstone boulder plinth, symbolising roots to Nottingham’s history, ecology, and communities. 

More than 700 people from local groups – including Sutherland House School and Nottingham Women’s Centre – took part in hands-on workshops led by Alicja Biała, exploring medieval making traditions and inviting new interpretations of historical forms.  

Their physical creations – wax moulds of local flora sourced from Nottinghamshire’s landscape – were cast into bronze to be used on the Maid Marian sculpture. 

Launching on Friday 17 July at BACKLIT gallery is a new exhibition ‘OUR MARIAN’ also celebrating Nottingham’s overlooked female folklore figure. Located just behind Sneinton Market, the exhibition brings together newly commissioned works across sculpture, film, textile and fashion, alongside extensive community input that reframes the legendary figure through a contemporary lens. 

The free exhibition will run from 18 July to 8 August 2026. Opening times Thursday to Saturday, 12-4pm. Location: Main Gallery (Second Floor), BACKLIT, Alfred House, Ashley Street, Nottingham, NG3 1JG. Step-free and lift access is available via Alfred Street. To find out more, visit https://backlit.org.uk/ 

Councillor Sam Lux – Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability and Castle ward Councillor, said: “A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life, especially Alicia and the workshop participants plus our partners at BACKLIT and It’s in Nottingham. 

“We’ve had a statue of Robin Hood since the 1950s so it’s only right that we now have Maid Marian represented too – especially on the street that bears her name. The beautiful new sculpture reflects our ambition to add nature back into our city with trees, plants and green spaces that provide shade and support nature and wildlife.” 

Alicja Biała, artist and sculptor said: “I truly believe that art can engage, challenge and uplift communities and this project was the perfect example of that. By getting to know Nottingham – its history, its people, its wildlife and its future ambitions – the final public sculpture is just one element of an experience that has far deeper roots and will be showcased in this wider exhibition.” 

Alex Flint, CEO, It’s in Nottingham said; “Nottingham is known for being a creative city, and home to the legend of Robin Hood. This sculpture, which was made with the help of local people, using plants from our green spaces, enables us to tell the story of Robin and Maid Marian in new ways. It’s the perfect addition to Nottingham; a city where we celebrate our heritage and our communities, and how these connect us to the place where we live.”