Two Men on a Bench — Giles Penny
Bronze by Giles Penny, 1995 · Wren Landing, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom
Photo: Prioryman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, taken 27 February 2015, the same photo as in the Street Art Utopia post. Full photograph shown.
Giles Penny’s 1995 bronze of two smooth, seated men belongs to Canary Wharf Group, which bought it after showing it in the 1999 millennium exhibition The Shape of the Century. Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · London Guided Walks, 28 Aug 2025 Checked Photos from 2008 and 2015 show it on the dockside, the earlier one placed at the foot of Cubitt Steps; on 1 January 2023 it was photographed beside the Wren Landing street sign. Jim Linwood, 6 Dec 2008 · Prioryman, 27 Feb 2015 · Dominic’s pics, 1 Jan 2023 Checked
More photos
5 things to know
- Bought after a millennium showPenny came to Canary Wharf’s attention when the bronze was shown in The Shape of the Century in 1999, an exhibition held in Salisbury and Canary Wharf; Canary Wharf Group then bought it. Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · Canary Wharf Group art map, 2022 Checked
- One of a pair of purchasesA second Penny bronze from the same show, Man with Arms Open, was bought with it and is also in the estate’s permanent collection. Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · London Guided Walks, 28 Aug 2025 Checked
- Serious, but with a joke in itThe estate describes a large bronze in the classical figurative tradition, with a contemplative air as well as an element of fun, and simplified surfaces that give it a monumental presence. Canary Wharf Group art map, 2022 Checked
- It used to sit by the waterIn 2008 the bench stood at the foot of Cubitt Steps by Mackenzie Walk, and a 2015 photo captioned Middle Dock shows it against the dock railings; a 2009 council walk sends walkers past it before climbing Cubitt Steps into Cabot Square. Jim Linwood, 6 Dec 2008 · Tower Hamlets Council walk, Dec 2009 · Prioryman, 27 Feb 2015 Checked
- Later seen by the Wren Landing signA photo dated 1 January 2023 shows the two men on paving beside the Wren Landing E14 street sign, away from the dock edge; when and why the bench was moved is not recorded in the sources we found. Dominic’s pics, 1 Jan 2023 · Canary Wharf Group art map, 2022 Unconfirmed
Where it is
- 📍
- Wren Landing, by Cabot Square on the Canary Wharf estate, Isle of Dogs, London E14. The 2022 estate map gives Wren Landing; the July 2024 guide lists the work under Cabot Square. Canary Wharf Group art map, 2022 · Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · Dominic’s pics, 1 Jan 2023 Checked
- 🕰️
- In 2008 it stood at the foot of Cubitt Steps by Mackenzie Walk, just south of Cabot Square; our February 2015 photo, captioned Middle Dock, shows it against the dock railings. Jim Linwood, 6 Dec 2008 · Prioryman, 27 Feb 2015 Checked
- 👀
- Outdoors on the open estate. Google Street View does not cover this spot, so the map pin is the camera position recorded with the January 2023 photo and is approximate. Dominic’s pics, 1 Jan 2023 Reported
Sightings
- 1999
Shown in The Shape of the Century
- 20086 Dec
Photographed at the foot of Cubitt Steps
- 2009Dec
On a Tower Hamlets Council walk route
- 201527 Feb
Our photo, Middle Dock (camera date)
- 2022
Estate art map lists Wren Landing
- 20231 Jan
Photographed by the Wren Landing sign
- 2024Jul
Estate art guide lists Cabot Square
- 202528 Aug
Walking guide names Wren Landing
Every stamp links to its source. Green stamps are dated photos of the bronze in place, all with camera dates: Jim Linwood’s from 6 December 2008 and Prioryman’s (our photo) from 27 February 2015 on the dockside at Middle Dock, and Dominic’s pics from 1 January 2023 beside the Wren Landing sign. Amber stamps are other evidence: the 1999 exhibition recorded by the estate, a 2009 council walk, the estate’s 2022 map and 2024 guide, and a 2025 walking guide.
On the record
Canary Wharf art map
“Giles Penny’s Two Men on a Bench is a large bronze work in the classical figurative tradition, which has a contemplative air as well as an element of fun.”
Exploring Canary Wharf: History, Public Art, and Riverside Life
“The Canary Wharf Group bought this, and Man with Arms Open, after exhibiting them as part of the Millennium show, The Shape of the Century, in 1999.”
Canary walk
“Go underneath the large blue DLR bridge, ignoring the first turning right, and continue to the Two Men on a Bench bronze (10) by Giles Penny. Climb up Cubitt Steps and cross into Cabot Square.”
The facts
- Title
- Two Men on a Bench. Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · Tower Hamlets Council walk, Dec 2009 Checked
- Artist
- Giles Penny. Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · Tower Hamlets Council walk, Dec 2009 · London Guided Walks, 28 Aug 2025 Checked
- Year
- 1995. Canary Wharf Group art map, 2022 · Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · London Guided Walks, 28 Aug 2025 Checked
- Place
- Wren Landing by Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, Isle of Dogs, London E14; earlier on the dockside at the foot of Cubitt Steps by Middle Dock. Canary Wharf Group art map, 2022 · Dominic’s pics, 1 Jan 2023 · Jim Linwood, 6 Dec 2008 · Prioryman, 27 Feb 2015 Checked
- Acquisition
- Not a commission: shown in the 1999 millennium exhibition The Shape of the Century, then bought by Canary Wharf Group for its permanent collection. Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 · London Guided Walks, 28 Aug 2025 Checked
- Status
- Seen on 1 January 2023 (camera date) beside the Wren Landing sign; still listed in the estate’s July 2024 art guide. We found no newer dated photo. Dominic’s pics, 1 Jan 2023 · Canary Wharf Group art guide, Jul 2024 Checked
- Our photo
- By Prioryman, CC BY-SA 4.0, camera date 27 February 2015, captioned Middle Dock, Isle of Dogs: it shows the earlier dockside setting. Wikimedia Commons, 27 Feb 2015 Checked
Related
- There’s Room on the Bench (13 Photos): the SAU collection with Giles Penny’s two men at Canary Wharf
All sources (8)
Official
- Canary Wharf Group: Canary Wharf art map (PDF), 2022. Entry B10: Giles Penny, 1995, bronze, Wren Landing; shown in The Shape of the Century in 1999; both works purchased by Canary Wharf Group.
- Canary Wharf Group: art guide (PDF), July 2024 (“Information correct at time of print July 2024”; online December 2024). Entry B8: Giles Penny, 1995, bronze, Cabot Square; the 1999 exhibition was held in Salisbury and Canary Wharf; bought with Man with Arms Open.
- Tower Hamlets Council: “Canary walk” (PDF), December 2009. Walk route from South Quay passing the Two Men on a Bench bronze (stop 10) before Cubitt Steps and Cabot Square.
Press
- London Guided Walks: “Exploring Canary Wharf: History, Public Art, and Riverside Life”, 28 August 2025. 1995 bronze at Wren Landing, bought with Man with Arms Open after the 1999 show.
Photos
- Jim Linwood / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, camera date 6 December 2008. “Just south of Cabot Square, at the bottom of Cubitt Steps by the side of Mackenzie Walk.”
- Prioryman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, camera date 27 February 2015. Our photo, captioned Middle Dock, Isle of Dogs.
- Dominic’s pics / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, camera date 1 January 2023. The bronze beside the Wren Landing E14 street sign.
Street Art Utopia
- Street Art Utopia: “There’s Room on the Bench (13 Photos)”, 20 October 2026. The SAU post with this work.
Artwork File · Last checked 20 October 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files