Event

Find: Our Marian

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Credit: Nottingham City Council

Permanent public artwork in Nottingham city centre

Our Marian is a permanent public sculpture celebrating Maid Marian and her place in Nottingham’s stories, created by artist Alicja Biała.

Commissioned as part of a partnership between BACKLIT Gallery and Nottingham City Council, the sculpture reimagines a familiar figure from the Robin Hood legend for contemporary Nottingham.

Visit the sculpture

Our Marian is permanently installed in Nottingham city centre and can be visited at any time.

Location: East West Nottingham at Tollhouse Hill/ Upper Parliament Street (NG1 5FW)
Near: Blend Coffee Shop, opposite the Premier Inn

Please note: The sculpture is not located at BACKLIT Gallery.

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Credit: Joshua Jones

About Our Marian

Rather than treating Maid Marian simply as a supporting character in Robin Hood’s story, Our Marian asks what she might represent in her own right.

The public sculpture was created by artist Alicja Biała (pictured below), whose practice explores relationships between people, place, identity and the environment.

The commission was developed through conversations and collaborations in Nottingham, connecting the creation of a new public artwork with questions about who is represented in the city and how its stories are told.

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Credit: Kuba Celej

From gallery to city

The sculpture formed part of the wider Our Marian project and exhibition at BACKLIT Gallery.

In summer 2026, the Our Marian exhibition brought together Biała’s work with new commissions and contributions from artists and communities, exploring Maid Marian through different perspectives.

While the exhibition at BACKLIT has now ended, the sculpture remains permanently on view in Nottingham.

A new landmark for Nottingham

The project was developed through a long-term collaboration between BACKLIT, Nottingham City Council, artists, partners and communities across the city.

Our Marian now becomes part of Nottingham’s public realm: a permanent artwork that invites people to encounter a familiar local story differently.

Find out more in the links below.