The Angel of the North: Icon of the Northeast

Design & Symbolism

• Artist: Sir Antony Gormley (unveiled 1998).
• Form: Human silhouette with 54-m (177-ft) wingspan—wider than a 747's.
• Meaning: Guardian angel; transition from industrial past to hopeful future; connection between earth and sky.

Specs

• Height: 20 m (66 ft)
• Weight: 200 tonnes (440,000 lbs)
• Material: COR-TEN weathering steel (rust-like patina, self-protecting).
• Foundation: 600-tonne concrete base anchored to bedrock.

Location & Impact

• Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, atop a former coal mine overlooking the A1 and East Coast Main Line.
• Seen by 90,000+ drivers daily; 150,000+ visitors/year.
• Initially controversial; now beloved regional symbol and tourist draw.

A landmark of the "Land Art" movement—art integrated into landscape at monumental scale.