Billie Bond selected as artist for new Matchgirls Statue

The Matchgirls Memorial is delighted to announce that sculptor Billie Bond has been selected to develop the new Matchgirls Statue in East London.

Following a competitive selection process, five artists were shortlisted and invited to develop proposals for the memorial. After careful consideration, the selection panel chose Billie’s proposal as the strongest foundation for the next stage of the project.

The panel was particularly drawn to the sense of solidarity, strength, energy and collective action expressed in Billie’s proposal, and to its representation of Matchgirls of different ages.

The proposal will now be developed further with The Matchgirls Memorial, including consideration of the final number and scale of the figures and how the sculpture will work within its eventual location. There will also be opportunities for local schools and community groups to contribute to the development of the work.

Sculpting Elizabeth Andrews OBE for Monumental Welsh Women Photo credit: Billie Bond

There is still a great deal to do before the final sculpture is realised, including fundraising, planning and technical development, but we are very excited to have reached this stage and to be working with Billie on creating a lasting memorial to the Matchgirls.

Billie Bond is an award-winning British sculptor whose figurative work explores the human condition, identity, resilience and the stories of people whose voices have often been overlooked. A Member of the Royal Society of Sculptors and Society of Portrait Sculptors, Billie works primarily in clay, stoneware, resin and bronze, combining traditional sculptural techniques with a strong sense of narrative.

Her work frequently focuses on women, history and social change, bringing forgotten or underrepresented stories into the public realm. Her recent commissions include the statue of Welsh political activist Elizabeth Andrews OBE for Monumental Welsh Women.

Selected as the artist for the Matchgirl Memorial, Billie will develop a sculpture inspired by the courage, solidarity and determination of the young women and girls who stood together in the 1888 Bryant & May Strike.

“I feel deeply honoured to have been chosen to create the Matchgirl Memorial. The story has a personal resonance for me. As a child, I collected matchboxes and remember the Bryant & May name, never imagining the human stories and suffering behind it. Years later, discovering the story of the Matchgirls cast those memories in a very different light.

What drew me most strongly to this project was the girls’ courage, determination and solidarity. These young, working-class women found their collective voice and stood together to demand change. I want the sculpture to capture not only the hardship they endured, but also their energy, bravery and refusal to be silenced.

It is a privilege to help give the Matchgirls the lasting recognition they deserve. There is still a profound lack of monuments celebrating women and their role in shaping our history. I hope this memorial honours the girls while contributing to a wider change—bringing more overlooked women into our public spaces and ensuring they are remembered for generations to come.”