We’ve found the elusive Bullring King Kong, and it’s clear he might be ready to come home.
This larger-than-life ape—with his oversized human hands and imposing presence—divides opinion, teetering between awe and unease. Created by Nicholas Monro, the sculpture first mesmerized Birmingham in 1972 when it briefly stood in Manzoni Gardens at the Bull Ring. Despite mixed reactions, King Kong remains a topic of conversation more than five decades later.
The original King Kong spent time in private hands after Birmingham declined to purchase it post-exhibition. Over the years, it moved through Edinburgh, Leeds, and Cumbria, finally resting with a family who cherished it and invested in its preservation. They remain reluctant to part with this tangible piece of local history.
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Meanwhile, a second King Kong—commissioned for the 2022 Commonwealth Games’ pop-up Jewellery Quarter park and making headlines worldwide—was thought lost after being seen in temporary storage at a demolition yard. The sculpture seemingly vanished until recently.
Marcus Hawley, former managing director of Cordia Blackswan, the company that commissioned the 2022 King Kong, explains the story behind the sculpture’s disappearance and reemergence. When Marcus left the company, he took custody of the enormous artwork rather than leave it behind, emphasizing his connection and commitment to the piece.
Marcus recounts his reasons for commissioning King Kong: “Nick Monro was a true child of the ’60s—a punk who never sold out. When given a brief to make a city-themed sculpture, he made it delightfully disorienting. After all, what’s more disorienting than King Kong arriving in New York?”
Despite the massive public interest—children adored him—the official powers weren’t sold, and the original wasn’t purchased. Instead, a car garage on Stratford Road snagged it, and it embarked on a rather eclectic journey.
Determined to revive King Kong for Birmingham, Marcus tracked down Monro, securing permission to create a new, larger version that replicated the precise colors and details the artist envisioned. This second ape debuted on Great Hampton Row during the Commonwealth Games, drawing roughly 30,000 visitors and billions of online impressions worldwide.
However, the project caused tension within Marcus’s former company, leading to his departure. Choosing King Kong over severance, Marcus took the sculpture into storage in Shropshire before moving it to a secure arts facility in Sheffield, where it currently resides.
A recent condition report from October 2025 confirms the sculpture remains structurally sound, with only minor paint wear and a little bird droppings on its broad chest.
Now, Marcus is looking to sell King Kong, hoping Birmingham will secure this captivating piece for public display. If local interest fades, international collectors are invited to bid, with a reserve price set at approximately £250,000.
Additional costs include annual insurance and maintenance around £2,000, £4,000 for transportation, and another £4,000 for necessary paint touch-ups.
Interested buyers can get in touch with Marcus at [email protected].
Opinions on King Kong remain divided. Birmingham historian Carl Chinn questions its significance, asking, “What’s a gorilla doing in Birmingham? It’s not part of the city’s history or identity.”
Conversely, university librarian James Fisher cherishes King Kong as one of his happiest memories. Having penned a comprehensive history of the sculpture, James observes, “King Kong provocatively captures attention. Unlike other public art that you might overlook, this ape demands a response—whether love or loathing.”
As the fate of this beloved yet controversial giant evolves, BirminghamLive will continue to follow the story. Could King Kong’s next chapter be in Birmingham after all?