Ahead of International Women’s Day, the entrance hall of 100 Bishopsgate in London’s Square Mile has been transformed with Glassed in Dreams, a new site-specific installation presented by Brookfield Properties and The Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA) reflecting their shared commitment to support and celebrating female creative talent.The commission was made following a highly anticipated open call for female artists and curators to respond to the space. The installation features three large bodies of glass sculptures, NEST (II), BODIES (I,II) and CORDS (VI, VII, VII, IX), created by internationally acclaimed conceptual artist Gabriele Beveridge and curated by Vassiliki Tzanakou.

Forty entries were received in a competition requesting responses inspired by George Oppen’s seminal poem Of Being Numerous which explores the complexities of urban life and the delicate balance between individuality and collective identity.

Three shortlisted competition entries: by sculptors Helen Barff, Helena Pritchard and Alice Sheppard are also displayed alongside Beveridge’s artworks submissions at Brookfield Properties’ 30 Fenchurch Street: Inside the Studio: How Artists Do Work.

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BODIES (I,II) by artist Gabriele Beveridge.

Gabriele Beveridge and Vassiliki Tzanakou were chosen by a distinguished panel of experts including Deborah Smith, Curator and Founder of Deborah Smith Projects; Jo Baring, Director of the Ingram Collection; artist Rana Begum; AWITA Co-Founder Sigrid Kirk; and Saff Williams, Curatorial Director at Brookfield Properties Europe. They were seeking work which would engage with the architectural geometry of 100 Bishopsgate and its role as a public space, fostering dialogue and connection.

Beveridge’s sculptures explore architecture, poetry, and materiality, using glass and metal to create a striking exchange with the surrounding environment. Her artworks explore themes of existence, perception, and the relationship between individual and collective experiences. With the direction of Greek-British art historian and independent curator Vassiliki Tzanakou, the new installation aims to foster a dynamic interaction between the artworks on display and their surrounding environment, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior within the glass-fronted atrium of the building.

“I am drawn to the materiality of glass. It has been my obsession for the last 15 years. The continuous flow of people within 100 Bishopsgate is like a working functioning organism, there is a psychological charge which I find compelling. Making large-scale work here is very different to making work for a traditional white cube space and is an incredible opportunity.” Artist, Gabriele Beveridge.

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Artist Gabriele Beveridge with her artwork BODIES (I,II)

The initiative by Brookfield Properties x AWITA supports and increases visibility for female sculptors and curators through commissioning opportunities and exhibition platforms. According to an ArtUK report:* for sculptures in London, where we know the name of the artist, male artists have created 85% of the works. Women have created just 13%. Sculptures created jointly by men and women represent 2% of the public artworks – the medium is therefore ripe for a reframe and support through a female lens.

Last year, Brookfield Properties and AWITA launched their first joint project, Beyond the Matrix, presenting two consecutive exhibitions at 100 Bishopsgate. Beyond the Matrix Act One starred sculptor Jodie Carey and curator Eve Miller (March – September 2024), and Beyond the Matrix Act Two: Komorebi was presented by artist Amelia Bowles and curated by Millie Jason Foster of Gillian Jason Gallery (September 2024 – February 2025).

“We are delighted to bring Glassed in Dreams to life at 100 Bishopsgate. This exhibition challenges perceptions of reality and self through dynamic, organic materials. Inspired by George Oppen’s poetry, Gabriele Beveridge’s series, curated by Vassiliki Tzanakou, explores the ways architecture, art, and environment interact to shape our collective experience. It is an honour for Brookfield Properties to continue working with AWITA to celebrate the voices of women in sculpture and
bring meaningful art into public spaces.” Saff Williams, Curatorial Director at Brookfield Properties Europe.

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Brookfield Properties’100 Bishopsgate

With over 30 years of experience in art placemaking, Brookfield Properties commissioned the ‘Art in the Workplace’ report in partnership with The School of Life in 2022. The report, the first of its kind in the UK, evidenced the positive impact of arts and cultural initiatives on tenant well-being in the workplace.

100 Bishopsgate is one of the many premier real estate properties developed and managed by Brookfield Properties in the City of London. By placing art within the lobby of shared-use workspaces, Brookfield Properties celebrates the office space as alternative galleries, giving workers and visitors a moment for looking and a reminder to pause – if only for a moment.

Glassed in Dreams (100 Bishopsgate) and Inside the Studio: How Artists Make Work (30 Fenchurch Street) are free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM.