Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham offered a diplomatic response to an 18-kilogram bronze sculpture depicting his head, which was unveiled at Manchester Central as part of the Manchester Art Fair. The artwork, created by northern English artist Anthony D Padgett, was designed to celebrate and highlight northern political leaders, though Burnham himself joked about its somewhat weathered appearance.
The sculpture required 40 hours of work to complete and has been prominently displayed at the Manchester Art Fair. Padgett conceived the project as a way to shine a spotlight on influential leaders from northern England, with Burnham serving as his subject for this particular piece. The bronze work captures notable features of the mayor, including his characteristic eyeglasses.
Speaking to LBC during the unveiling ceremony, Burnham admitted the experience was entirely new to him. "I've never quite had this experience before," the mayor stated. "Yeah, it looks like me. I think it's a really incredible moment, really a strange moment to see yourself like that, and these glasses, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get rid of them now they're immortalized." His comments reflected both appreciation for the artistic effort and bemusement at seeing himself rendered in bronze.
With characteristic humor, Burnham acknowledged the sculpture's somewhat worn appearance, quipping that he "probably does look like that on a Monday morning." He added, "Yeah, a little haggard on a morning, but yeah, it's an incredible thing and I just want to thank Anthony." The mayor's self-deprecating remarks drew chuckles from attendees at the unveiling in his home city.
Burnham expressed genuine gratitude for the artist's initiative, noting his initial uncertainty about how to respond when Padgett first proposed the project. "When Anthony came to me and suggested it you don't know quite how to react when someone says that. But it was a wonderful thing you did. I really, really appreciate it to have an amazing northern artist like this do this for me. Well, I'm truly honoured. Thank you," he said during the ceremony.
The sculpture unveiling comes at a time when Burnham's name has once again surfaced in political discussions about potential leadership changes within the Labour Party. The Mayor of Greater Manchester has been mentioned as a possible successor to current Prime Minister Keir Starmer, adding an additional layer of significance to his public appearances and artistic commemorations.
