A bold and exciting new addition to the University’s sculpture collection, Red Stack is a four-meter-high, bright red sculpture which resembles a large tower of pillows.
The striking artwork plays with shape, material, and colour and is made from fibreglass and resin. The curious nature of the art leaves its meaning open to audiences, with everyone seeing something different in it, inviting intrigue and debate from its viewers.
Red Stack is now on display on the Edgbaston campus next to the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clocktower (Old Joe) on Chancellor’s Court and is free for everyone to see.
The sculpture has been acquired as a new piece of public art in celebration of the University of Birmingham’s 125th anniversary. Throughout this year, the University has put on a programme of public art, events, and community engagement, all designed to honour the University’s rich history and vibrant future.
Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, said: “As one of the UK’s first civic universities, it is important to us that our campus is a place where everyone can come and explore everything we have to offer, from research to art, both old and new. For 125 years, we have been a civic university, and we remain dedicated to making the University an inviting place for everyone in Birmingham. We are looking forward to welcoming the public to come and see this latest addition to campus and hearing what people think about it.”
Clare Mullett, Head of University Collections at the University of Birmingham, said: “We wanted something joyful and exciting to mark our 125th anniversary year, and this sculpture makes a playful reference to the University’s proud history as one of the UK’s first red brick universities in a bold and contemporary way.
“We are thrilled that Red Stack is part of our permanent sculpture collection. It will be a conversation starter, open to interpretation by everyone. This newest addition to campus is here to welcome new and returning staff, students, and visitors ready for the beginning of the academic year. We are delighted to welcome everyone to come and enjoy our public art on campus.”
The artist, Shaikha Al Mazrou, is an Emirati sculptor known for her bold works that explore tension, balance, and materiality. She lives and works in Dubai, where the University of Birmingham has a campus. Her art often plays with shape and colour, making strong industrial materials appear soft. Her work invites people to look closer and think differently about what they see.
Shaikha Al Mazrou said: “I am truly thrilled that Red Stack, a work first unveiled as part of Frieze Sculpture in Regent’s Park, London, will now find its permanent home at the University of Birmingham. This piece has always carried with it the energy of dialogue and encounter, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and experience form in space. To know that it will now live within an academic setting where ideas, curiosity, and engagement are constantly in motion feels especially meaningful. I look forward to Red Stack becoming part of the fabric of the university, sparking new ways of seeing and thinking for generations of students, faculty, and visitors alike.”
The sculpture was selected by a Public Art Advisory Board led by the University Collections team. This group includes academics, arts professionals, students, estates and campus planning experts. The decision was informed by a large-scale public consultation on campus and online.
The acquisition, along with events and activities celebrating the University’s 125th anniversary, was made possible by the generous support of University of Birmingham alumni and benefactors.
You can find more information about Red Stack on the University website, and find more ways to celebrate the University of Birmingham’s 125th anniversary here.
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