Reaching Out

Reaching Out is a bronze sculpture of a Black woman looking at her mobile phone by artist Thomas J Price. She is casually dressed, while seemingly unengaged with her surroundings. It was unveiled in 2020 at The Line art trail in East London during a time when Black Lives Matter protests drew attention to public art celebrating historical figures who had persecuted Black people. It is one of several monumental sculptures by Price depicting Black women and men, a subject matter underrepresented in modern sculpture. Reaching Out was the third public sculpture of a Black woman in London and the first public commissioned sculpture in the United Kingdom of a Black woman created by a Black artist. Price's goal is to create works depicting "everymen" and "everywomen" that are often overlooked engaging in routine activities. The intent of Reaching Out is to show someone relatable and to represent marginalised voices. It has been described as "decidedly ordinary" while also reframing "the ordinary as extraordinary". The sculpture was on display on the art trail until 2022. Since then, it has been exhibited at other institutions. Replicas are on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London and Ekebergparken Sculpture Park in Oslo.

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