A breathtaking, large-scale illuminated sculpture by acclaimed British artist Luke Jerram will go on display at The Exchange in Birmingham next spring.

The University of Birmingham announced that it had permanently acquired Helios, and that it would be displayed for free from March to November 2026.

Using high-resolution (72dpi) photographic solar imagery, the sculpture reveals the astonishing details of the Sun’s surface, from swirling sunspots to dramatic solar flares, all illuminated from within to cast a golden glow across the Banking Hall.

Measuring five metres in diameter, the artwork is 278 million times smaller than the actual Sun, with each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture representing 2780km of the Sun’s surface. At this scale, planet Earth, in comparison to this sculpture of the Sun, would be 46mm across – about the size of a golf ball.

The striking sculpture will also be enhanced by a specially created surround sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.

Lauren Deere, University of Birmingham, says: “We are so excited to be bringing Helios to Birmingham and Midlands audiences for free next Spring. Luke is a wonderful artist who brings art and science together in a way that makes them not only accessible but also beautiful, encouraging the public to engage with the sciences.”

To accompany the artwork, a wrap-around exhibition will showcase climate change and space research from leading scientists and academics at the University of Birmingham. Taking visitors on a journey from the depths of space, through our atmosphere, to the people, places, and creatures the Sun sustains, the exhibition highlights how seeing the Sun is central to understanding our planet’s past, present, and future.

The Exchange will also host an eight-month public programme of events responding to the sculpture, due to be announced in Spring 2026.

Featured image credit: Helios captured by James Dobson