A special exhibition of work by internationally-renowned Wirral sculptor Emma Rodgers will be on view at a gallery in her home town later this month.

Wunderkammer - on display at the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead from July 21 until October 1 - is described as a mini-retrospective of Emma's practice. It explores the objects, people and places that have fascinated and inspired the internationally-renowned artist throughout her career.

It will give visitors a chance to step into the artist's studio and see how her work has developed over time from the young art student to one of the country’s foremost sculptors in ceramic and bronze.

Wirral Globe:

Emma Rodgers

Alongside the exhibition, the Williamson will unveil a specially-commissioned new sculpture by Emma for the gallery's outdoor courtyard.

The 'Garden of Artemis is a life-size ornamental oak tree sculpture in steel and bronze – a nod to both the oak tree in Birkenhead's coat of arms, and the trees that feature in the Gallery’s collection of Della Robbia decorative ceramics.

The sculpture has been made possible by funding from the estate of Fanchon Frohlich, through the Williamson and Priory Friends.

Emma is one of the most celebrated sculptors working in ceramic and bronze.

Her work, acclaimed for its vibrancy, strength and flexibility has been exhibited at the V&A, the Royal Academy, SOFA Chicago, and in New York and Miami.

Emma has undertaken several significant public sculpture commissions, including the famous Cilla Black statue on Mathew Street in Liverpool, and – most recently – a statue celebrating the pioneering Welsh writer and feminist Elaine Morgan in Mountain Ash, South Wales. This is however her first creation for her home town of Birkenhead.

Fanchon Frohlich died in 2016; she was a polymath with particular interest in visual and performing arts.

Fanchon’s late husband was Professor Herbert Frohlich who was latterly an academic at Liverpool University and was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize for Physics.

The trustees of her estate made a range of charitable donations to organisations linked to the arts and the Williamson & Priory Friends were pleased to be beneficiaries to enable this commission.