Celebrating the spirit of MG

New College, Oxford has commissioned the world-renowned British Sculptor Paul Day to create a unique work of art which will celebrate the College’s role as the official birthplace of the MG marque.

The unique bronze sculpture is due to be unveiled in the summer of 2026 and will be sited in a courtyard garden behind the Longwall Street building where William Morris and Cecil Kimber formally founded MG in May 1924 when the iconic MG Octagon was registered as a trademark of Morris Garages.

Miles Young, Warden of New College, explains:
“New College’s remarkable history dates back to 1379, however Paul’s commission will celebrate a more modern achievement which is the College’s association with William Morris and Cecil Kimber who played a pivotal role in modern British car design and production and did much to make Oxford such a thriving centre of vehicle manufacturing. These achievements deserve permanent recognition, and we hope our students and many visitors will enjoy the truly dramatic sculpture Paul is currently creating.”

Paul Day, an award-winning Sculptor who has had solo exhibitions across the world and created iconic sculptures like the Battle of Britain Monument and the Meeting Place at St. Pancras Station, views this commission as a particularly personal project. Not only is he a passionate motorist but his family has strong links with the company Cecil Kimber founded. Paul says:
“Some of my fondest, most vivid memories are of my father driving the numerous MG sports cars he either owned himself or which belonged to the famous company with which he was associated, namely University Motors, which was a very well-known MG dealership including a branch in the heart of Mayfair. I grew up around the magic of MG sports cars and this commission is the ideal opportunity for me to reconnect with many happy memories and powerful emotions.”

The final design for the main installation at New College is now being perfected at Paul Day’s studio in Burgundy. However, 50 beautiful and limited-edition small bronzes, which capture the powerful central motif of a driver at the wheel, have been created and are now available to purchase in advance of the main unveiling. In addition to his large public art installations, Paul Day’s smaller artworks are much sought after and critically acclaimed and these bronzes promise to be highly collectable.

Guy Pigounakis, Commercial Director at MG Motor UK, comments:
“This will be a fitting tribute to the pioneering days of MG, when Cecil Kimber began to establish a groundbreaking sports car company based in Oxford and William Morris had the courage to back a young employee.”

“MG colleagues have been fortunate enough to see Paul’s early sketches and clays and they perfectly capture this exciting and optimistic era, when affordable British sports cars and a general passion for motoring and adventure took off in the mid-1920s.”

The original Morris Garages showroom now forms part of New College, Oxford with most of the building providing modern accommodation for undergraduate students. However, the College has carefully preserved key features including the distinctive double doors which are visible on Longwall Street. More recently, the College named a new wing facing the courtyard in honour of Cecil Kimber.

Today, as MG embarks on its second century, it is widely regarded as one of the leading manufacturers of accessible, efficient and enjoyable-to-drive zero emissions electric vehicles and is forging an exciting future as a pioneering new mobility company.