Edward Waites’ Gorilla explores the formidable presence of one of Africa’s most remarkable mammals. Native to the forests of central Africa, gorillas live in close-knit social groups, often led by a mature silverback. Despite their immense physical strength, these extraordinary primates are known for their complex social bonds and generally peaceful nature, a fascinating contrast that lends Waites’ subject particular significance.

Born in Suffolk in 1988 and raised in Newmarket, Waites grew up surrounded by horses, developing an early appreciation for animal anatomy and movement. Entirely self-taught, he has since expanded his sculptural practice beyond equestrian subjects to encompass an extraordinary variety of wildlife, particularly the great mammals of the African continent. Working directly in clay, Waites favours an instinctive, physical approach to modelling, deliberately preserving the marks of his hands and tools. His sculptures are subsequently cast in bronze through the traditional lost-wax process at a Suffolk foundry. In Gorilla, this expressive technique brings a compelling sense of weight, individuality and quiet authority to one of the natural world's most powerful creatures.