Art Funded by you

Blue Sky Thinking

Patrick Goddard, 2019

Patrick Goddard’s installation Blue Sky Thinking comprises 180 unique lead sculptures, each one depicting the form of a dead ring-necked parakeet.

Parakeets are small colourful parrots that are not native to the UK; they have, however, now become naturalised in certain areas, predominantly London.

Goddard, who studied at Goldsmiths, London, and the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford, carved each parakeet in clay before casting the finished objects in lead recycled from London roofs. The sculpted birds are a little larger than life size.

The artist’s focus on the non-native parakeet taps into current debates about migration and border control, as well as raising issues around climate change. An unsettling question mark hangs over the tragic fate of the birds in this piece.

Blue Sky Thinking now joins NMNI’s Ulster Museum, Belfast, which holds an internationally important collection of sculpture.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Blue Sky Thinking, 2019

Date supported

2020

Medium and material

Lead, Recycled lead in 180 unique parts

Total cost

16000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

Art Funded by you FAQs

Why is this object record marked 'archive'?
Where can I see this work of art? Is it on display?
What is Art Fund's purpose?
How is Art Fund funded?
What type of funding do you offer?
What does the acquisition grants programme support and who can apply?
How many works of art has Art Fund helped museums to acquire?
I’m a curator/researcher/arts professional and would like to find out more about this work, how do I get in touch?
I’m a journalist and would like to contact Art Fund about this work, how do I get in touch?
I would like to donate a work of art to a museum. What do I need to do?
I'd like to leave a gift to Art Fund in my will. How can I do this?

Contact us

If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.