Zac Goldsmith, the eldest son of billionaire Sir Jimmy Goldsmith and socialite Lady Annabel Goldsmith, has worn many hats throughout his career. Known as a high-society figure, politician, environmental advocate, and Tory peer, the 51-year-old scion of a prominent banking family now embraces sculpting as his latest pursuit.
Discovering Sculpture During Lockdown
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park traces his artistic interest to the early pandemic days. While isolated in his New Forest home, he initially carved wood from an ancient oak tree felled by a storm. He created life-sized figures of a silverback gorilla, wolf, tiger, and cheetah, finding deep satisfaction in the process.
As his duties as Environment Minister intensified, Goldsmith shifted to indoor sculpting with clay and wax during virtual meetings. He notes that this activity provided a meditative escape, especially for someone who struggles with traditional meditation practices. Despite a demanding schedule, he filled downtime with these creative endeavors.
Persistent Passion Amid Life Changes
Even after lockdown ended, Goldsmith continued sculpting. He dramatically resigned from the Foreign Office, ended his marriage to Alice Rothschild in divorce, yet maintained his workspace with wax and tools. He describes his approach as intermittent, starting pieces and revisiting them weeks later due to time constraints.
His works focus on bronze sculptures of animals, particularly endangered species, reflecting his environmental commitment. Without formal training, Goldsmith relies on experimentation, using tools like nit combs and toothpicks tailored to each subject.
Art for Nature Exhibition
Goldsmith discusses his upcoming exhibition, Art For Nature, which showcases his sculptures to support conservation and animal welfare initiatives. Despite his brief time in the medium, his bronzes fetch high prices, raising nearly £500,000 for charitable causes. Collectors include former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Trudie Styler, and Lady Carole Bamford, popular among influential Cotswolds circles.
His standout piece is a giant bronze silverback gorilla, originally a gift from the late John Aspinall to his father. It portrays Djoum, whose descendants have been rewilded in the Congo by Damian Aspinall. Goldsmith avoids human portraits but incorporates imaginary figures in some works. He expresses reluctance to sculpt his wife, Hum Fleming, saying he could not do her justice.
Personal Milestones and Environmental Dedication
Goldsmith and Fleming, 34, married last summer in the Cotswolds—her first marriage and his third. The ceremony featured guests like Boris Johnson, the Princess of Hanover, and Tom Parker-Bowles as groomsman. His siblings Jemima Khan and Ben Goldsmith attended, along with their mother, Lady Annabel, who passed away shortly after. Goldsmith honored her as a source of fun, love, and energy, crediting her profound influence on their lives.
Through political setbacks, like his 2016 London Mayoralty loss to Sadiq Khan, and personal challenges covered in the press, Goldsmith’s environmental passion endures. Last year, he founded Yaba Chic Wildlife Conservation in Costa Rica’s Osa region, hailed by National Geographic as Earth’s most biodiverse area. The project rescues, rehabilitates, and releases endangered animals in a pristine rainforest corridor linking national parks. He highlights the region’s dolphin pods and annual humpback whale migrations as vital global treasures.
His exhibition favorite is the giant tortoise, inspired by encounters in the Galapagos Islands, where conservation efforts have stabilized their populations. Goldsmith marvels at how his hobby generates substantial funds for protecting nature and combating animal cruelty. He encourages others to champion the natural world.
Art for Nature runs from February 11 to 28 at Noho Showrooms, 67 Great Titchfield Street, London W1 (zacgoldsmithart4nature.com).
