A SPECTACULAR art installation by one of the world's most celebrated sculptors is set to arrive at Firstsite.

Turner Prize winner Antony Gormley's Field for the British Isles, which consists of 40,000 tiny terracotta figures, is the largest single piece of artwork in the Arts Council collection and known as one of the renowned artist's most beloved and impressive sculptures.

The piece was created in 1993, the year before Gormley won art's most iconic award, from a mountain of brick clay with the help of more than 100 volunteers.

In a real coup for Colchester the celebrated sculpture will go on display at the Lewis Gardens gallery for four months from November 15 to March 8, 2020.

Braintree and Witham Times: Antony Gormley's Field of the British IslesAntony Gormley's Field of the British Isles

Firstsite Director Sally Shaw said: "Field for the British Isles comprises 40,000 figures and there are 40,000 children and young people living in Colchester.

"This work is an ideal way to represent the scale of the local population and the responsibility adults have to ensure that Colchester’s youngsters are given every opportunity and the necessary support to fulfil their potential."

After being acquired by the Arts Council in 1995, Field for the British Isles has been exhibited at a variety of prestigious venues across Britain, including Salisbury Cathedral, Greenesfield BR Works in Gateshead, The British Museum and Tate Liverpool.

At each location the configuration of the field is changed to suit the space, but the thousands of individual figures are always installed to resemble a dense carpet.

In Firstsite the figures will swam through the rear half of the building including the main gallery spaces meaning they'll be plenty for the public to explore.

Angel of the North artist Gormley, who was knighted in 2014, described Field for the British Isles as "thirty tonnes of clay energised by fire, sensitised by touch and made conscious by being given eyes ... a field of gazes which looks at the observer making him or her its subject.”

Installation of the piece will be completed by a huge team of volunteers and access to the exhibition will be free of charge.

The arrival of Field for the British Isles follows an impressive 12-months for Firstsite, which has been selected as an Arts Council Collection National Partner for three years.

The gallery has also won NHS and Arts Council England funding to ensure low income families can be welcomed and engaged at the gallery through its unique Holiday Fun programme.

Visit firstsite.uk to find out more.