London, 23rd April, 2025 – As the UK prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, a new bronze sculpture of Sir Winston Churchill is being unveiled – created by rising British artist Rufus Martin, and proudly supported by Bowman Sculpture.
The bust captures Churchill in one of the most iconic moments of the 20th century – flashing his ‘V for Victory’ sign from the balcony in Whitehall on 8 May 1945, the day Germany’s surrender was announced and the war in Europe declared over. This striking new work is being released as part of VE Day 80 commemorations and aims to honour both the historic moment and the enduring symbolism of Churchill’s leadership.
Key Details:
• Sculptor: Rufus Martin (b. Dorset, UK)
• Medium: Bronze
• Subject: Sir Winston Churchill, VE Day 1945
• Supported by: Bowman Sculpture, London
• Occasion: 80th anniversary of VE Day – 8 May 2025
About the Work:
The bust is based on extensive visual research, including photographs by Yousuf Karsh, studies by Graham Sutherland, and archival images from the National Portrait Gallery. It shows Churchill at the exact moment he addressed crowds in Whitehall on VE Day—cigar in hand, fingers raised in his now-iconic ‘V’ sign. The sculpture is not just a likeness, but a representation of the emotional weight of that historic moment—relief, pride, and the sober knowledge of what had been lost to achieve victory.
The surface of the work remains richly textured, showing the marks of the sculptor’s hand. The coat, based on an original Churchill garment, has been carefully sculpted for weight and realism. The expressive modelling of the face avoids idealisation, focusing instead on emotional truth.
Rufus Martin trained at Wimbledon College of Arts and first gained attention in Bowman Sculpture’s inaugural Graduate Exhibition in November 2024. His work received a strong response, prompting the gallery to support him on this new project. He is a two-time recipient of the Tiranti Prize for portrait sculpture (2022, 2023), awarded to outstanding artists under 30.
This bust of Churchill marks his first major public-facing historical work.
About VE Day 80:
On 8 May 2025, the United Kingdom will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. It marks the moment when peace returned to the continent after nearly six years of war. Across the country, families and communities will come together to remember the sacrifice, courage, and unity that defined the wartime era. Churchill’s original VE Day speech and appearance from the balcony of the Ministry of Health in Whitehall remains one of the most enduring images of Britain’s 20th-century history.
