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Interviews and Inspiration From The World of Sculpture. Join, Lucy Branch, sculptural conservator and author, as she talks to sculptors whose work can be found in public spaces. They discuss their creative journeys, their artistic practice and their shared love for all things bronze. Find the show notes at www.sculpturevulture.co.uk and download your free novel.
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Lucy Branch makes public monuments legible as creative works, civic campaigns and deliberate choices about whose memory takes physical form.
Sculpture Vulture treats public sculpture as a record of choices: who is commemorated, how an artist gives that figure physical form, and what it takes to place the finished work before the public.
Bronze maquettes go on tour, and you start caring who gets the statue.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A practical, affectionate look at what public sculpture survives after installation.
Sculpture Vulture looks past the unveiling ceremony and into the work that keeps public sculpture standing: plinths, fittings, paving, weather, and the slow grind of maintenance.
A grounded look at how sculpture is preserved without losing its character.
This episode treats sculpture conservation as practical work, not theory for theory's sake. Lucy Branch keeps the focus on authenticity and on how long public art can survive in the real world.
A clear, practical account of how public sculpture moves from civic idea to funded campaign.
Public sculpture starts well before a public unveiling, and Andrew Simcock gives that slow civic journey a clear shape. As a Labour councillor for Didsbury East, a member of the Sculpture Vulture Society, and a key figure in both the Emily Williamson statue campaign and…
A sculptor's proposal brings Emily Williamson's fight against feathered fashion into view.
Emily Williamson's stand against the feather trade gives this Sculpture Vulture interview a clear historical pull. After seeing great crested grebes hunted for plumage, the founder of the Society for the Protection of Birds formed an all-women's organisation when her letters…
A measured conversation about public sculpture, process, and ideas taking shape side by side.
Public sculpture opens onto the working mind in Lucy Branch's conversation with a sculptor reflecting on how a nine-foot figure can take shape while another idea is forming alongside it.
A thoughtful discussion of underwater sculpture, preservation, and the meaning found in work designed to change.
The episode treats underwater sculpture as a practice built on letting go. Its strongest thread is the push and pull between making something carefully and knowing the sea will soon alter it.
A sculptor reflects on how travel, patience, and landscape shape outdoor bronzes with a strong sense of place.
Simon Gudgeon frames large-scale outdoor bronze sculpture as the mature form of a childhood habit: making things by hand and following the pull of materials, form, and setting.
Art historian Tamar Avishai interviews critics, curators, and writers about single paintings and ideas.
Russell Tovey and Robert Diament interview artists about their materials, biography, and process.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins and James Deakins interview film crew about the craft behind specific shots.
Robert Bound interviews artists and reviews new film, book, and music releases with critics.
Sound art from places, recordings, and memory.
This episode features an interview with sculptor John Belardo discussing the Piccirilli Brothers, a family of Italian sculptors who created significant public monuments in the US during the early 20th century.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Clare Abbatt, discussing genteel activism, community projects, and bronze sculpture work.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Laury Dizengremel, discussing the business aspects of sculpture, international markets, and portrait sculpture.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Peter Newman, exploring themes of opportunity, serendipity, and contemporary public sculpture.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor James Butler, discussing building momentum, storytelling, and commemorative sculpture, while also sharing personal news and updates on sculpture competitions.
This episode features an interview with sculptor Hazel Reeves discussing key themes in public sculpture from 2021, including policies on historic monuments, commissioning standards, copyright issues, and contract negotiations.
This episode features an interview with sculptor Charlie Langton discussing how to gain traction, find your niche, and his work in equestrian sculpture.
This episode is the season finale of Sculpture Vulture, where host Lucy Branch introduces an interview with sculptor David Breuer-Weil about his work in monumental bronze sculpture and free-drawing, while also sharing personal updates about her life and career.
This episode features an interview with social historian Tessa Boase about her book on London's lost department stores, exploring their architectural significance and bronze sculptures.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Ray Lonsdale, focusing on his work and the broader context of public sculpture, including a mention of elephant sculptures at Spitalfields Market.
This episode explores the origins of large-scale bronze sculpture, inspired by a 2012 Royal Academy of Art book, while also sharing updates on the host's conservation work at historic royal palaces.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Neil Armstrong about the conservation of a memorial plaque for the Little Ships of Dunkirk, while also discussing the host's novel editing process.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Basil Watson exploring themes of heroism in sculpture, hosted by conservator Lucy Branch.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Jonathan Hateley, exploring his work with time and nature, while the host shares personal plans to visit Dublin for art-related events and sculptures.
This Christmas episode of Sculpture Vulture features host Lucy Branch and co-host Ben Broadbent, a professional sculptor, discussing their shared passion for public sculpture in a casual, geek-out conversation.
The host Lucy Branch introduces her podcast Sculpture Vulture, which features interviews with sculptors and others in the field, while reflecting on her creative process and New Year goals.
This episode introduces an interview series with inspiring sculptors, focusing on Bernard Meadows as a key figure in sculptural history and his connections to artists like Henry Moore and Elizabeth Frink.
Host Lucy Branch shares a personal story about attending a 30-year reunion in Venice with fellow sculpture students, reflecting on aging and intergenerational connections in the art world.
Host Lucy Branch introduces an episode about sculpture vandalism and restoration, sharing her recent work fixing damaged Robin Hood and Maid Marian statues in Nottingham.
This solo episode features host Lucy Branch reflecting on completing a novel and discussing her informal, unscripted approach to the podcast while introducing her series on public sculpture.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Nigel Hall RA, exploring how he transforms space into sculpture, with host Lucy Branch providing updates on her novel and recommending the Materially Speaking podcast.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Ceri Thomas about Robert Thomas and Welsh women icons in public sculpture.
Sculptural conservator Lucy Branch introduces her podcast and shares personal challenges with bronze conservation in hot weather while previewing an upcoming project at Piccadilly Circus's Shaftesbury Memorial.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Tom Murphy, focusing on his work and its connection to Liverpool, as part of the podcast's exploration of public bronze sculpture.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Juliet Rix about women in London's sculpture, while also discussing recent guerrilla art like the Trump-Epstein sculpture.
This episode discusses the challenges of outdoor sculpture conservation work in the UK, including weather disruptions and permit issues, while transitioning from remembrance projects to preparing historical buildings for Christmas.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Sarah Monk about the artistic pull of Pietrasanta, while host Lucy Branch shares insights on public sculpture and the Roosevelt statue in London.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Rebecca Hawkins about the unspoken aspects of bronze sculpture, discussing conservation work and artistic meaning.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Karli Wurzelbacher about the legacy of sculptor Emma Stebbins, while host Lucy Branch shares her recent work on a Michael Faraday monument.
Host Lucy Branch shares her personal experience with publishing a novel while drawing parallels to the creative process in sculpture, setting up an interview about public art.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Alan Beattie Herriot, focusing on his work and Scottish stories in public sculpture.
This episode features a discussion with sculptor Kenny Hunter about the role of monuments in contemporary society, exploring their historical significance and current relevance.
This episode features an interview with Brett Colbert, co-founder of the Pneuma Art Foundation, discussing its mission to support artists' professional development and his personal background in art and humanities.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Sabin Howard, discussing his work and the art of sculpture, while the host shares updates on conservation projects in London.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Hywel Pratley about sculpting national treasures, with host Lucy Branch sharing personal anecdotes about working in sculpture conservation during cold weather and managing workloads around holidays.
This episode explores the significance and development of bronze in 19th and 20th century sculpture, including a personal anecdote about conserving bronze mausoleum doors in London.
Lucy Branch introduces a solo episode of Sculpture Vulture, sharing her plans to expand beyond interviews by starting a book club-style segment focused on books about bronze and sculpture to enhance her knowledge in the field.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with sculptor Roy Noakes, exploring his creative journey, legacy challenges, and dynamic abstract sculpture work.
This episode features an interview with Orna Ross about Maud Gonne, exploring her life beyond being just a muse and her connections to sculpture and public art.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with animal sculptor Tanya Russell, preceded by a discussion on overcoming excuses for creative projects.
This episode features an interview with sculptor Romany Mark Bruce, focusing on his approach to using color in sculpture, as part of a series exploring public art and the people involved in the field.
This episode of Sculpture Vulture features an interview with Richard Calvocoressi about Henry Moore, exploring his journey from professional to legendary sculptor, while also touching on the host's current work with Napoleonic bronze eagles.
This episode features an interview with sculptor David Williams-Ellis discussing consistent discipline, classical balance, and contemporary figurative sculpture.
This episode features an interview with sculptor Nicola Godden discussing figurative sculpture, navigating gatekeepers in the art world, and balancing a creative career with family life.
The host Lucy Branch returns after a two-year hiatus to update listeners on her sculpture conservation business and personal journey, mentioning recent projects including work for Tate.
This episode explores portrait sculpture and self-doubt through an interview with Christine Charlesworth, while also discussing recent controversies around public sculpture like the Edward Coulson statue.
This episode explores the complexities of protective coatings for bronze sculptures, addressing common questions from sculptors and the host's personal research into materials science.
Lucy Branch discusses the conservation challenges of public bronze sculptures, using the Oliver Tambo statue as a case study to highlight issues like low-level placement, plinth design, and vulnerable accessories.
Lucy Branch introduces her podcast Sculpture Vulture, shares a personal story about receiving a sound booth as a birthday gift to improve her recordings, and reflects on how this upgrade inspired her to adopt a more professional mindset in her creative work.
Host Lucy Branch, a sculptural conservator, introduces the new season of Sculpture Vulture and delivers a practical educational episode on bronze sculpture conservation.
["Andrew Simcock says a coffee in Manchester Town Hall led him to notice that the sculpture hall was full of male busts and only Queen Victoria among 17 public statues in the city centre.
Sculpture Vulture uses Billie Bond's Emily Williamson commission to connect a July 1 maquette display with Emily Williamson's 1889 anti-plumage campaign.
Philip Jackson tells Lucy Branch that he decided to become a sculptor at 11 after reading Greco-Roman sculpture books while staying with his grandmother and great aunt.
Jason deCaires Taylor says public sculpture can be derailed by politics, including a Maldives project that the government smashed up and turned into a PR exercise.
Lucy Branch's Sculpture Vulture interview with Simon Gudgeon turns on a Dorset sculpture park, a solicitor qualification, and large outdoor bronzes.
Sculpture Vulture host Lucy Branch interviews Louisa Forbes about figurative sculpture, mythology, Minoan civilization, bronze patination, and public commissions.
Lucy Branch interviews sculptor Martin Jennings about moving from English literature and lettering into commissioned public sculpture for institutions including the National Portrait Gallery and St Paul's Cathedral.
Sculptural conservator Lucy Branch interviews Paul Day about his transition from a trainee bank manager at Midland Bank to a sculptor known for The Meeting Place at St Pancras Station and large narrative reliefs.
Sculpture Vulture host Lucy Branch interviews sculptor Hugh Chapman about severe dyslexia, Barbara Hepworth’s influence, and the practical demands of making abstract sculpture.
Sculpture Vulture host Lucy Branch interviews Amy Goodman about moving from childhood drawings of horses to bronze, steel, and public memorial sculpture across the UK.
Hazel Reeves tells conservator Lucy Branch that only 2.7% of statues depict historical non-royal women, a gap she attributes to "discrimination" and to men controlling "power and money." She explains why bronze let her place an over-life-size Emmeline Pankhurst on a kitchen chair in St.