Shapes shift, forms evolve, and boundaries dissolve as Bushra Fakhoury’s sculptures invite visitors into a world where imagination, instinct, and social consciousness converge. Alongside her, photographer Mal Fostock presents Inclusion in the West Gallery, creating a dialogue between sculpture and photography that explores transformation in its many forms.

Whatever I cannot say in words, I say in a three-dimensional sculpture.

(Bushra Fakhoury)

Bushra Fakhoury is a renowned British sculptor whose work has been celebrated internationally. Born in Lebanon and based in London, she studied art at prestigious institutions before establishing herself as a sculptor whose work bridges classical inspiration with contemporary concerns.

Her sculptures are held in public and private collections around the world, and she is perhaps best known for her monumental contemporary sculptures on London’s Park Lane, including Dunamis and Danse Gwenedour. Her art reflects a deep engagement with society, politics, nature, and the human condition.

Fakhoury’s work is instinctive, bold, and emotive—drawing inspiration from Picasso, Goya, and Rodin. She works without preliminary sketches, allowing each piece to emerge organically from her imagination, shaped in resin, bronze, plaster, and ceramic. Her practice embraces spontaneity, material experimentation, and the physicality of creation.

I respond to the material as it speaks to me. There’s a dialogue between my hands, the medium, and the ideas I want to express.

(Bushra Fakhoury)

Her monumental public sculptures are familiar landmarks, yet Transmute turns inward, presenting works conceived for the intimacy of a gallery space. These pieces retain the monumental spirit of her outdoor works while inviting close engagement from visitors.

The gallery requires a scaled-down model of what could be produced as a monumental public sculpture, but the story and energy remain the same.

(Bushra Fakhoury)

Meer spoke to Bushra about Transmute and the unique collaboration with her son, Mal Fostock, whose exhibition Inclusion runs concurrently in the West Gallery.

How did the idea of exhibiting together at Mall Galleries come about?

Bushra: Early in the 20th century, artists helped each other—think of Modigliani supporting Soutine. I am promoting Mal, a private artist who didn’t want to spend time on exhibition preparation. He is multifaceted—painting, photography, sculpture, line work—and it took until now to convince him.

What do the titles Transmute and Inclusion mean to you?

Bushra: Transmute is about change—in form, nature, and substance. Inclusion brings together different media and genres, reflecting Mal’s range of practice. My sculptures come from imagination, using materials around me, responding to the world spontaneously.

How would you describe your creative dynamic as mother and son?

Bushra: We normally work separately but occasionally collaborate. We influence each other all the time, consciously or subconsciously. It’s a relationship built on mutual respect and inspiration.

What was the process like for developing your collaborative works?

Bushra: When we work together, the works combine as though created by one soul. Each of us contributes, yet the final piece feels seamless, unified.

With over 100 works being shown, what kind of journey do you hope visitors take?

Bushra: The aim is for visitors to enjoy the work. It should speak for itself, allowing audiences to experience transformation, dialogue, and emotional resonance without being guided by words.

Do your themes or materials speak to each other across the galleries?

Bushra: Only in collaborative photography. The sculptures and photos intersect conceptually, reflecting shared concerns about society, nature, and human experience.

Transmute suggests transformation. What does this exhibition reflect?

Bushra: Transmute is about change in form, nature, and substance. My sculptures emerge from imagination, but they also respond to the world around us—environmental changes, societal pressures, and human emotions.

How does this new body of work expand from previous public sculptures?

Bushra: The new pieces are designed for large-scale exhibition, bridging the gap between the monumental works outside and the gallery experience. They allow visitors to engage with form, movement, and emotion in a more intimate setting.

How does the gallery setting change your ideas compared to monumental public art?

Bushra: The gallery requires a scaled-down model of what could be produced as a monumental sculpture. Yet the energy, intention, and storytelling remain intact.

What role does storytelling play in your work?

Bushra: Every sculpture tells a story about society, nature, or politics. They are vessels for ideas I cannot express in words. Each piece carries emotion, narrative, and history in three-dimensional form.

How has working with your son influenced your practice?

Bushra: It has strengthened our relationship more than it has changed my artistic practice. Collaborating has deepened our understanding of each other’s work and enriched the dialogue between generations.

Through Transmute and Inclusion, Bushra Fakhoury and Mal Fostock invite audiences into a space where instinct meets form, individual vision meets collaboration, and imagination becomes tangible. The exhibitions offer a journey of transformation, reflection, and dialogue—a world in constant motion, waiting to be discovered by those who step inside.