Displayed at Rose Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre in 2025 during the run of Marie and Rosetta.
Strings of Fire
Strings of Fire is a life-sized portrait of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the pioneering American musician widely known as the Godmother of Rock and Roll.
Captured mid-performance with guitar in hand, Sister Rosetta is portrayed with the energy and presence that characterised her performances. The sculpture celebrates a musician whose distinctive fusion of gospel, blues and electric guitar helped shape the development of rock ’n’ roll and influenced generations of musicians.
The title Strings of Fire reflects Sister Rosetta’s energy, resilience and musical innovation. Her guitar becomes an integral part of the portrait, recognising both her musicianship and the powerful stage presence through which she challenged expectations and transformed popular music.
The sculpture is accompanied by an inscription featuring an excerpt from Desmond Wilcox’s 1957 Daily Mirror article, They Call Her ‘Holy Roller’: Rosetta Flies into Rock. The inscription is presented in tactile print and braille, with a voiced version accessible via QR code.
Together, the portrait and inscription celebrate Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s voice, musicianship and enduring influence on modern music.
Strings of Fire is available as a limited edition of 8 in bronze resin or bronze.
Suitable for indoor display.