Lawrence in Fitzrovia – Unveiling of the Marble Head

For more than 30 years singer, songwriter and musician Lawrence, a former resident of Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, has remained firmly on the periphery of mainstream popular music. He has released over 20 albums of highly original, idiosyncratic influential work with his groups Felt, Denim, Go Kart Mozart and Mozart Estate. The acclaimed 2012 documentary ‘Lawrence of Belgravia’ portrays the artist recording music and performing as he combats adversity, hardships and homelessness in a tough city and a commercially driven industry.

Corin Johnson is a highly skilled sculptor who creates his own work independently in his small Camberwell studio. His passion for music has led to a collaborations with Nick Cave, Grace Jones, James Johnston and now with Lawrence. Corin has also collaborated with Paul Noble (entered for the Turner Prize ), Edmund de Waal and Ibrahim El- Salahi.

Johnson’s incredible Portuguese pink marble sculpture of Lawrence is a beautiful display of resilience and reflection and is being shown for the first time alone in the unique and meditative setting of the Fitzrovia Chapel. The sculpture provides an object of pilgrimage in the former sacred space of the chapel, lit up on a podium by the altar.

Lawrence modelled for Corin’s sculpture over the course of two years, his distinctive visor and hood evoking a monk in contemplation, an urban rebel and a public figure in disguise

The exhibition is curated by Martin Green of Duovision Arts and local Soho Radio who works extensively with LGBTQ creatives, outsiders and older artists. He gains recognition for those he works with and draws large diverse audiences to many exhibitions, having worked with over 100 trailblazers including Marc Almond, Andrew Logan, Pam Hogg, Jarvis Cocker, Peter Doig, Roxanna Halls and currently Holly Johnson. He is also co-curating a large exhibition about Leigh Bowery and Taboo for the Fashion and Textile Museum in October 2024.

Lawrence in Fitzrovia, part of the chapel’s 2024 cultural programme, will include a specially commissioned soundscape.

It is free to enter and you don’t need a ticket.
Open 11am to 6pm daily (closed Monday), Sunday 12 noon to 5pm