Michael Craig-Martin in Conversation – Russell Square Sculpture Programme with Curator Joe Duggan
During the Russell Square Sculpture Programme, curator Joe Duggan sat down with Michael Craig-Martin, one of the most influential artists of his generation, for an extended and wide-ranging conversation.
Craig-Martin’s work has been central to the development of contemporary art over the past five decades, shaping not only how objects, images, and ideas are represented, but also influencing generations of artists through his teaching and writing. In this discussion, they speak about his sculptures and drawings, the works on display in Russell Square, and his working process. The conversation also moves into broader territory: culture and language, his Irish heritage, ideas of success, the dangers of a lack of imagination, the importance of humour, the usefulness (or otherwise) of inspiration, and what continues to motivate him to make work today.
Recorded at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel, the conversation reflects on three sculptures by Michael Craig-Martin installed in Russell Square Gardens: Umbrella (magenta) (2024), Headphones (blue) (2020), and Bright Idea (2016).
Now in its second year, the Russell Square Sculpture Programme brings contemporary sculpture to Russell Square Gardens, in the heart of Bloomsbury, engaging over 11,500 daily visitors with major works of art in public space. For 2025, we were delighted to invite Michael Craig-Martin to present three sculptures in partnership with Gagosian and the Bloomsbury Festival, positioning Russell Square as a garden known for the ambitious presentation of public sculpture, introducing major works to a wide public audience.
The Russell Square Sculpture Programme is led by The Commissioners of Russell Square—businesses, institutions, and residents established by Act of Parliament in 1800—including The Bedford Estate, the British Museum, the University of London, the Imperial Hotel Group, the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel, and local residents. The programme is curated by Joe Duggan.