Calls to save modernist ‘Leaning Woman’ sculpture by Jewish refugee from Prague

Londoners are being asked to help save a modernist sculpture in Hammersmith created by a Jewish refugee from Prague who fled the Nazis in 1938.

The Grade II-listed ‘Leaning Woman’, by Dr. Karen Vogel, faces the Great West Road and is one of the city’s best-loved pieces of art, but is sadly going to ruin, prompting a heritage group to try to raise £16,400.

Designed in 1958, the semi-nude figure – which is nearly twice life size and appears to float – was part of a post-War programme to bring art to Londoners.

However, the concrete has now cracked and the iron armature has become exposed and is rusting, say campaigners. Past repairs have failed and the area has recently become overgrown, with rough sleepers around it.

The statue, described as “exceptional” and “a much-loved Hammersmith landmark for over 60 years”, was put on the Heritage at Risk Register in 2017. Almost £33,000 of the £49,400 target has been pledged.

It was one of 41 pieces of post-War public art in England given protection by Historic England on account of their national significance and was described as “part of a precious national collection of art which we can all share”.

Vogel fled the Nazis in 1938, coming to England and teaching sculpture at several schools and colleges, including the Camberwell School of Art.

His work featured prominently at the 1951 Festival of Britain, visited by 8.5 million people on London’s South Bank, and at the Royal Academy summer exhibition.

A spokeswoman for Heritage of London Trust, which is running a crowdfunder on the Spacehive platform, said: “We really don’t have long to get this money together and we are pulling out all the stops to try and save this special piece.”

Other groups working to raise the money, which will also be used to clean up the area, include St Peter’s Residents Association and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.