A towering 33-meter (108-foot) sculpture called the Star of Caledonia is set to be constructed on the border between Scotland and England, making it the largest sculpture in Scotland once completed. The monumental artwork will be positioned near Gretna Green in Dumfries and Galloway, where millions of travelers will see it as they drive between the two countries.
The sculpture, which stands as tall as more than eight double-decker buses stacked on top of each other, will be illuminated using renewable energy so it can be seen both day and night. This ambitious project represents a revival of a long-delayed vision, as the design competition was originally won in 2011 by artist Cecil Balmond, but construction was postponed due to funding challenges.
The Star of Caledonia pays tribute to James Clerk Maxwell, often called the 'Einstein of Scotland,' whose groundbreaking scientific theories form the foundation for much of today's technology. Construction on the illuminated landmark is scheduled to begin in March 2026, with completion expected by spring 2027.
This new sculpture will join several other notable large-scale artworks across the United Kingdom. The Angel of the North, standing on a hilltop in Gateshead, has been a prominent landmark for nearly 30 years since its completion in 1998. Designed by artist Antony Gormley, it measures 20 meters tall with wings spanning 54 meters, making it one of the world's most viewed pieces of art, seen by more than one person every second.
In Scotland, the Kelpies have dominated the landscape in Falkirk for nearly a decade. These 30-meter-tall steel structures, designed by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott over an eight-year period, depict mythical creatures from Scottish folklore that are said to live in lochs and possess shape-shifting abilities.
Northern Ireland contributes to this collection with three giant sculptures along the Sperrins Sculpture Trail, unveiled in 2023. Created by Thomas Dambo, one of the world's leading recycled artists, the trio includes Nowanois (The Storyteller), Darach (The Guardian), and Ceoldán (The Stargazer), located at three different sites in the Sperrin area near Northern Ireland's Dark Sky Park.
Wales features The Alliance, a 25-meter-high installation by Paris-based artist Jean-Bernard Metais that has stood in Cardiff city center since 2013. Equivalent in height to five and a half stacked double-decker buses, this unique sculpture contains a visible liquid inside a hoop that moves with the tide and glows at night.
The Star of Caledonia will serve as both a landmark for travelers and a tribute to Scottish scientific achievement, adding to the United Kingdom's impressive collection of monumental public art that celebrates history, mythology, and cultural identity across the region.
