Country shows its ‘Gratitude’ to pandemic heroes with spectacular outdoor art unveiling

Gratitude - a spectacular 51 sculpture outdoor public art installation paying tribute to the sacrifices made by NHS staff and all front line key workers during the pandemic, has been officially unveiled in Birmingham’s Chamberlain Square.

Each of the 51 sculptures have been designed by a local or nationally renowned artist and sponsored by many of the UK’s leading businesses.

National law firm Browne Jacobson has sponsored graphic artist and illustrator Harkiran Kalsi’s iconic design, ‘I am thankful for…’

Harkiran Kalsi is a nationally renowned artist that blends graphic design, murals, illustration and freehand typography to create her eye-catching designs. She has worked on campaigns for BBC Children in Need, London Marathon, Comic Relief, Virgin Sport, British Gas, Carabao, Footlocker and NBA and Lululemon, amongst others. She was named by art and design magazine Creative Boom as one the ’25 most exciting graphic designers and illustrators’ to follow during International Women’s Day. Her work has also appeared on campaigns highlighting issues around racism and inequality.

After its unveiling in Birmingham, the installation will embark on a national tour that includes Edinburgh, Manchester and London. On 12 October each sculpture will be auctioned with the funds going to NHS Charities Together which support the NHS, including its hospitals, ambulance services, community and mental healthcare providers and vital partnerships.

Organiser Wild in Art’s previous projects have included the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascot trail, the award-winning ‘Bee in the City’ in Manchester and ‘The Big Hoot’ and ‘The Big Sleuth’ trails in Birmingham.

Key locations and dates for the tour are as follows:

• 20 - 30 August - Chamberlain Square, Birmingham
• 3 - 12 September - St Peters Square, Manchester
• 17 - 26 September - Newhailes House, Edinburgh
• 1 - 10 October - Southwark Cathedral, London.