The Hunt for Birmingham's Missing Ape
Birmingham's iconic King Kong sculpture, which captivated the city during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, has been found after disappearing from public view. The massive artwork currently lies on its back in a secure storage facility in Sheffield, awaiting a potential return to its spiritual home.
A Polarizing Legacy Spanning Decades
The Nicholas Monro-designed sculpture has always divided opinion since its first appearance in Bull Ring's Manzoni Gardens back in 1972. For 54 years, this controversial artwork has sparked debate among Birmingham residents, with some finding it terrifying while others consider it wonderful.
The original version remains with the family who purchased it after Birmingham City Council declined to buy it following its initial Bull Ring exhibition. That sculpture traveled to Edinburgh, Leeds, and Cumbria before finding permanent private ownership.
The Commonwealth Games Resurrection
When the original owners refused to part with their King Kong, Marcus Hawley, former managing director at Cordia Blackswan, embarked on a mission to recreate the artwork for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. After painstakingly tracking down the eccentric artist Nicholas Monro and obtaining his authorization, a new, larger version was meticulously recreated with specific attention to every detail from eye color to paintwork.
"Nick Monro was a proper child of the 60s, a punk, he never gave in, and never sold out," explains Hawley. "When the cigarette company gave him the brief, they wanted the sculpture to be city orientated. He made it disorientated. What's more disorientating than when King Kong arrives in New York?"
The reimagined sculpture drew approximately 30,000 visitors to its Great Hampton Row display during the Commonwealth Games, generating what Hawley describes as "a billion impressions around the world online" and attracting international media attention.
Internal Conflict and Disappearance
Despite the public success, King Kong created friction within Cordia Blackswan. Hawley reveals that colleagues considered it a vanity project, leading to his departure from the company. Rather than taking severance pay, Hawley negotiated to take the sculpture with him.
"They thought it was a vanity project for me," says Hawley. "It got to such a level that I left and instead of taking severance, I said I would take King Kong with me."
The sculpture initially went into storage in Shropshire before being transferred to its current Sheffield location. A condition report from October 2025 confirms the artwork remains structurally sound, though showing some paint delamination and evidence of bird droppings on its substantial chest.
The Price of Bringing Kong Home
Marcus Hawley has now revealed the financial requirements for returning King Kong to Birmingham public display. The owner has set an auction reserve price of £250,000 for the sculpture, with decisions about its future expected within the next three months.
Beyond the purchase price, prospective buyers must consider additional costs:
- Annual insurance and maintenance: approximately £2,000
- Transportation for the giant sculpture: around £4,000
- Paint touch-ups and restoration: estimated at £4,000
Hawley expresses hope that someone in Birmingham will secure the sculpture for public display, though he acknowledges art collectors from around the world may also bid at auction. Interested parties can contact him directly at kc@seminality.co.uk.
Divided Opinions on Kong's Return
The question of whether Birmingham wants its controversial ape back continues to spark debate. Birmingham historian Carl Chinn represents one perspective, stating the sculpture "never captured the imagination or affections of the city" and questioning "What's a gorilla doing in Birmingham? It's not embedded in Birmingham's history or people."
Conversely, university librarian James Fisher describes seeing King Kong as "among the happiest of all their memories" and has written a complete history of the sculpture's existence. Fisher argues that King Kong's value lies in its ability to provoke reaction.
"It does the perfect job of provoking a reaction," Fisher told BirminghamLive. "There's absolutely no way with the size of it you wouldn't have an opinion on it. How much street sculpture passes you by and you either don't take it in at all, or you simply shrug and say 'it's ok'? That will never be the case with King Kong. Good or bad he will always grab your attention, but in the best way possible."
An Uncertain Future for an Iconic Ape
The fate of Birmingham's most controversial sculpture remains undetermined as the three-month decision window begins. Whether King Kong will return to public display in the city that both celebrated and rejected him, or find a new home elsewhere in the world, will soon be revealed. BirminghamLive will continue to follow this developing story as the future of this polarizing piece of public art unfolds.
