If you’re looking for something weird, wonderful, and totally unexpected, the Horniman Museum and Gardens in south London has just the thing.
For the first time ever, British artist David Shrigley’s giant praying mantis sculpture, The Mantis Museis on public display – and trust us, it’s worth a visit. And bonus, it’s also free!
Standing at a towering three meters tall, this fibreglass and steel mantis isn’t just big – it moves. Yep, its animatronic head adds an extra touch of eerie realism, making it feel like it’s watching you (but in a cool way, not a horror movie way).
The sculpture is on show in the museum’s gorgeous Victorian Conservatory from April 8 to April 21, 2025.
If you’re not familiar with David Shrigleyhe’s the artist behind the quirky and thought-provoking works that have popped up in galleries all over the world. Remember that giant “thumbs up” on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth? That was him. He’s got pieces in MoMA, Tate Britainand loads of other top-tier galleries, and in 2020, he even received an OBE for his contributions to visual art.
And I’m absolutely sure that you would have stumbled upon his doodles in the depths of doom scrolling during COVID. They were not only funny but comforting during a strange strange time.
So, why a giant praying mantis? Well, The Mantis Muse was originally created to highlight the importance of art in education. It was first set up at Shrigley’s old school in Leicestershire for two weeks in 2024, and now, the Horniman is giving it its public debut. Shrigley hopes the sculpture will get people talking about creativity and why the arts need more support.
Alongside the sculpture, the Hornim is also running some fun events, like family yoga sessions inspired by The Mantis Muse (because why not?).
Did I mention it’s free? You can check out The Mantis Muse any day from 10am to 5:30pm while it’s on display. Head to the Hornim’s Website for more details.
