Zac Goldsmith, the prominent environmentalist and former politician, embarks on a new creative path as a sculptor. The 51-year-old Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, known for his diverse roles from high-society figure to Tory peer, now channels his passion for nature into bronze animal sculptures. This artistic venture supports conservation efforts worldwide.
Discovering Sculpture During Lockdown
Goldsmith traces his interest in sculpting back to the early pandemic period. Confined to his New Forest home, he initially carved wood from a fallen ancient oak tree on the property. He created life-sized figures of a silverback gorilla, wolf, tiger, and cheetah, finding deep satisfaction in the process.
As his duties as Environment Minister intensified, Goldsmith shifted to indoor sculpting with clay and wax. This allowed him to work during virtual meetings. ‘I was able to work with clay or wax in my office, even while doing other things,’ he explains. Despite a busy schedule, he values the meditative aspect of sculpting. ‘I wasn’t sitting around with nothing to do. But in the gaps I began using the wax and discovered that sculpting has an almost meditative quality, particularly for someone like me who’s never had the patience to try anything like meditation.’
From Wax to Bronze: A Self-Taught Artist
Even after lockdown ended and amid personal changes—including resigning from the Foreign Office and his divorce from Alice Rothschild—Goldsmith continued sculpting. He works intermittently, keeping tools on his office desk. ‘I do it in stops and starts,’ he says. ‘I might start a piece and then leave it for weeks before returning to it. I’ve never been able to work continuously on anything as I’ve never had time.’
His works focus on the animal kingdom, especially endangered species, rendered in sizeable bronze pieces. Without formal training, Goldsmith relies on experimentation. ‘I’ve just tried, failed, tried again and have figured out a way that suits me. I have bundles of carving tools, but use whatever makes sense for the animal I’m working on. I’ve used nit combs and toothpicks, and endless objects I’ve made for particular tasks.’
His sculptures fetch high prices, raising nearly £500,000 for charities. Collectors include former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Trudie Styler, and Lady Carole Bamford. Goldsmith’s favorite is a giant bronze silverback gorilla, originally a gift from the late John Aspinall to his father, Sir Jimmy Goldsmith. ‘It is a portrait of a gorilla called Djoum, many of whose descendants have been rewilded in the Congo by John’s son Damian,’ he notes.
Personal Life and Artistic Inspirations
Goldsmith avoids human portraits but incorporates imaginary figures in some works. He expresses reluctance to sculpt his wife, Hum Fleming, whom he married last summer in the Cotswolds. Their wedding drew notable guests, including Boris Johnson and the Princess of Hanover, with Tom Parker-Bowles as groomsman. Fleming, 34 and a great-niece of James Bond author Sir Ian Fleming, represents Goldsmith’s third marriage.
The event also featured Goldsmith’s siblings Jemima Khan and Ben Goldsmith, along with his mother, Lady Annabel, who passed away shortly after. In tribute, Goldsmith described her as ‘a mother figure, a confidante, a source of boundless fun, love and energy.’ He added, ‘We are all hopelessly indebted to her. We are so blessed to have had her in our lives.’
Environmental Commitment Through Art
Throughout his political career, including his 2016 London Mayoral bid against Sadiq Khan, and personal challenges, Goldsmith’s dedication to environmentalism endures. His upcoming exhibition, Art For Nature, showcases these sculptures to benefit conservation and animal welfare projects.
Funds support initiatives like Yaba Chic Wildlife Conservation in Costa Rica, which Goldsmith founded last year after visiting the biodiverse Osa region in 2022. Described by National Geographic as the most biodiverse place on Earth, the area features pristine rainforest linking national parks. The project rescues, rehabilitates, and releases endangered animals. ‘It is a stretch of intact and pristine rainforest, part of a corridor of forest that links the great national parks,’ Goldsmith says. He highlights the region’s dolphin pods and annual humpback whale migrations, calling it ‘a nature paradise’ and ‘a global treasure.’
His standout piece is a giant tortoise, inspired by encounters in the Galapagos Islands. ‘I met some on the Galapagos Islands, where they’ve been successfully protected after years of decline. They are fascinating animals. They live extraordinarily long and peaceful lives.’
Goldsmith marvels at the impact of his art. ‘It’s amazing to me that I can raise funds for heroes fighting to protect nature and end the worst extremes of animal cruelty just by doing something I love doing. I feel very lucky to have discovered it. I always hope more people will want to join the cause and become champions for our beleaguered natural world.’
Art For Nature runs from February 11-28 at Noho Showrooms, 67 Great Titchfield Street, London W1 (zacgoldsmithart4nature.com).
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