In this edition of Culturalee in Conversation, we speak with Zoë Allen of Artistic Statements about her curatorial approach to Winged Victory, a sculptural work by Zachary Eastwood-Bloom that reimagines the Nike x Palace collaboration through form, material, and myth. Commissioned for Manor Place — a new cultural landmark in South London — Winged Victory merges classical mythology with digital fabrication and contemporary cultural symbolism. Subtle design cues, from the Southbank Undercroft torch reference to the collaborative Nike x Palace insignia, anchor the work within both local cultural history and global streetwear language. Allen discusses the thinking behind the commission, the dialogue between brand, artist, and site, and how sculpture can translate cultural movements into lasting public form.
What first drew you to Zachary Eastwood-Bloom as the artist who could translate the Nike x Palace collaboration into a sculptural form, and what qualities made him the “perfect fit” for this project?
I’ve followed Zach’s work for many years. His fascination with Mythology and how that translates into his art was captivating for me, so he was a natural choice. I was eager to see each new piece of work and each time, the sculptures got more and more exciting and he is working with really interesting and cutting-edge fabrication techniques. He’s also an utter delight to work with; cool, calm, collected and extremely talented.
Winged Victory merges classical mythology with digital fabrication and contemporary cultural symbols. As curator, how did you guide the balance between historical reverence and modern reinterpretation?
It was a collaborative effort. Between me, Zach and the client we were able to strike a harmonious balance. There were a couple of modernistic design accents we almost pursued, but Lev (Palace) was adamant on the importance of nuance. It had to be subtle. Once we stripped back it was clear he was right, less really was more. It feels much cooler that way.
The sculpture carries subtle design cues, from the Southbank Undercroft torch reference to the collaborative Nike x Palace insignia. Can you talk us through your collaborative process with Zach and the Palace team in deciding which elements would speak “just loudly enough”?
The collaborative logo was a necessity, and it was important the placement was clear. The Goddess holds a book which gave the logo a natural and legible location. There was talk of a logo tattoo under her arm, but it felt too much and took away from her timeless quality. And as for the Torch, it was a very clever, very nuanced design feature – and demonstrates Zach’s design prowess.
Manor Place is positioned as a new cultural landmark in South London. How do you see Winged Victory shaping the identity of the space and acting as its “custodian” for years to come?
She’s iconic. Situated in a beautiful part of the building that’s designed to be a flexible gallery/ event / retail space, she’ll have plenty of admirers. Standing proud in the centre of the space, she sits under an original glazed roof, bathed in natural light and clearly viewable from the street. She looks like she’s always been there, looking over on the mini victories of the people who frequent the building. And speaking as a lady, I’m very pleased there’s a Goddess in the space. There are far too many male sculptures in London (and beyond).
All images Courtesy of Artistic Statements.
When I received the brief, I knew Zach would be the perfect fit to translate the Nike x Palace collab in a way that felt sympathetic to the past, but gave a strong nod to the future. I’m beyond proud to see Zach’s modern-day iteration of the Goddess of Nike. The sculpture also manages to embody the buildings narrative – old, yet futuristic. An icon for all, she’ll be the custodian of the space for many years to come.”
Zoë Allen, Art Curator
