Suspended in Silks
A shining collaboration
A majestic shadow artwork, commissioned by Bristol BID as part of Brazen Festival 2026. Suspended in Silks hangs, suspended, from the façade of St George’s Bristol, casting the shadows of two majestic acrobats against the wall of the 200-year-old former Georgian church. Based on photographs of Bristol-based aerialist Jude Whitburn, the piece is 5 metres high in total and will be projected upon the building at night.
Meet the artist
Will Budgett is an artistic sculptor with links to Bristol who builds abstract scrap metal figures that, through shadow and light, project striking figures onto their surroundings.
Will made his first shadow project as a teenager, inspired by light artists such as Edgar Degas, Tim Noble and Sue Webster. He studied Russian at the University of Bristol and lived in Russia for a time. It was there, at a ballet, where he was enchanted by the dancers and their shadows cast into the wings of the theatre. The dancers were poised, their shadows abstract. It was then he had the idea to turn that concept on its head – an abstract sculpture that casts the perfect shadow of a dancer, suspended.
“It’s the biggest piece of work I’ve made to date. Having this enormous sculpture on the front of St George’s is going to be the biggest moment in my career.”
Will Budgett, Sculptor
The Work
This new commission builds on the ideas explored in Will’s artwork at the 2026 Bristol Light Festival, presented by Bristol BID. The Midnight Ballet saw shadow dancers displayed around the University of Bristol’s Royal Fort Gardens and drew 100,000 people throughout the festival period. It was the success of this piece that led to Bristol BID calling on Will’s expertise for the Brazen collaboration.
What does it take to turn scrap metal into a dancer?
26 October to 30 November
Alongside the artwork, St George’s Bristol will be hosting a free exhibition that takes you behind the scenes of the Suspended in Silks journey.
From meeting the aerialist who inspired the work and seeing the first sketches, to photographing movement, experimenting in the studio, working with metal and exploring the science behind the final illusion. See models, drawings, photography and a film following the artwork from first idea to installation.
