Iconic artist Linder creates a landmark public artwork for ZSL’s 200th anniversary

ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy are pleased to announce a new permanent mosaic by the celebrated British artist Linder (Linder Sterling, b. 1954) marking ZSL’s 200th anniversary in 2026.

She walked Komodo dragons through London Zoo, revolutionised how reptiles were kept and displayed, and died aged just 34 — yet Joan Beauchamp Procter has remained largely unknown outside specialist circles. Today, ZSL (Zoological Society of London) unveils Sirona (2026), a winding 53-foot snake mosaic by acclaimed British artist Linder, as the permanent legacy artwork marking ZSL's 200th anniversary. Installed permanently at the charity’s London Zoo, Regent's Park site, Sirona is both a monument to Procter's overlooked legacy and Linder's first permanent public artwork, as well as her first work in mosaic. The artwork is commissioned by ZSL and curated and managed by Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy.

Joan Beauchamp Procter FZS FLS (1897–1931)

Sirona honours the legacy of Joan Procter, ZSL's first female Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians at London Zoo.

Known affectionately as the 'Dragon Doctor', Procter was famed for her fearlessness and intimacy with reptiles — she could often be spotted walking through the Zoo with a leashed Komodo dragon by her side. A gifted scientist from a young age, Joan presented her first scientific paper to ZSL aged just nineteen, on variations of a Central and South American pit viper. In 1923, at only twenty-six, she became the first woman to hold the post of London Zoo's Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians at London Zoo, and was later elected as a Fellow of ZSL in recognition of her expertise. She also designed London Zoo's iconic Reptile House, which has been superseded by the Zoo's state of the art legacy exhibit – the Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians.

Despite working in a male-dominated field and suffering from chronic ill-health, Procter transformed reptile care and exhibition design — her innovative enclosure designs recognised reptiles' need for UV light, a radical idea at the time — and reimagined how the public could engage with animals. She oversaw the arrival of Komodo dragons at the Zoo for the very first time. Joan died aged just 34, but her legacy endures. "Think of this sometimes" — a phrase taken from a personal letter from Joan to her sister — is recreated in the mosaic in Joan's own handwriting, inviting visitors to pause and reflect on the natural world around them. 

About the Artwork

The mosaic takes its title from Sirona, the Celtic goddess of healing and restoration, also known as Serona Sivelia – "She who makes us better". The name carries resonance in relation to Joan Procter, whose pioneering achievements were realised despite a lifetime of significant health challenges. Linder was also drawn to the subtle, snake-like sibilance of the name, echoing the winding reptilian form at the heart of the installation.

Constructed from reclaimed marble tesserae and framed by Black Galaxy granite from southern India, Sirona depicts an Ethiopian mountain adder — an endangered ZSL EDGE species (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) housed in the Zoo's Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians. Its winding form evokes the display tables of the Victorian era, subtly referencing the scientific culture of ZSL's early days while honouring Procter's innovative contributions to reptile care. The adder's skin moves within the shape of another serpent's form, inspired by a photograph taken by a student from Astley Cooper School during workshops at Whipsnade Zoo.

About the Artist

Linder (b. 1954) is one of the most influential British artists of her generation. Emerging from the Manchester punk and post-punk scene of the 1970s, she became known for photomontages, performances and photographs that explore identity, power, and the role of women in society. Working with printed images, Linder cuts and rearranges photographs with great precision — using scissors and surgeons’ scalpels to create new images from vintage fragments. Her work is held in major collections including Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and MoMA, New York.

Sirona marks both Linder's first permanent public artwork and her first work in mosaic, extending her internationally recognised photomontage practice into a new medium. Just as she cuts and reassembles photographs, thousands of individual tesserae are assembled to create a new image from fragmented parts. In selecting Joan Procter as her subject, Linder celebrates a fiercely individual scientist whose rigour, imagination and determination resonates deeply with her own radical practice. 

Community Engagement & Research

In developing the work, Linder hosted zine workshop sessions with students, young people, and older participants at ZSL's two conservation zoos — London and Whipsnade — exploring themes of empathy, perception, and conservation. She also conducted research in the ZSL Prince Philip Zoological Library & Archives and the Library & Archive at Girton College, Cambridge. These sessions directly informed the development of the work

Linder said:

"This commission led me on a fascinating journey of discovery into ZSL's past — uncovering Joan Beauchamp Procter as a true heroine of the natural world. In Joan I found a kindred spirit: a fiercely independent curiosity that resonated with my own practice, and with ZSL's broader spirit of enquiry and determination to build connections between people and wildlife.

This mosaic — my first ever permanent public artwork — offered a rare opportunity to work in a new medium. Joan's life was marked by persistent ill health from childhood onwards — which perhaps deepened rather than diminished her extraordinary devotion to reptiles. The mosaic takes its name from Sirona, an ancient goddess shown offering libation to a coiled snake — an image of healing and renewal. Joan Procter too can be understood as offering her own form of libation through unwavering devotion to the species she loved and to the people who came to share that love.

'Think of this sometimes' — a phrase Joan wrote in a letter to her sister — acts as a quiet invitation to remember her extraordinary life. As we contemplate the mosaic, we share a space through which Joan herself would once have walked. Can we follow in her footsteps, nurturing curiosity and care for the natural world within our own communities?"

CAS *Consultancy Senior Art Producer Katharina Worf said:

"We are delighted to collaborate with ZSL and artist Linder on this landmark commission. Translating Linder's distinctive practice into a permanent new medium has been a remarkable process — replacing her scalpel with chopped stone, yet carrying the same precision and intention, the placement of tesserae bearing profound parallels with her photomontage practice.

What has been especially meaningful is how deeply the work is rooted in the community. Workshop participants, young and elders, ZSL staff and archives all shaped what Sirona became — and a photograph taken by a student at Whipsnade became the form of the snake at the heart of the mosaic itself. This has been a vast collaborative effort over two years in the making and that collective endeavour is embedded in every stone. It is in Linder's true spirit to uncover an untold story. Sirona gives Joan Procter an artwork worthy of her legacy. A testament to all women, past, present and future: that their contributions matter, their stories deserve to be told, and that with curiosity, determination and care — you can do it.

We hope Sirona shines a lasting spotlight on extraordinary women like Joan Procter and that it stands as a testament to what patient, purposeful collaboration can create."

The mosaic is part of a partnership between ZSL, Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy and Linder, supported by the Pears Foundation. The collaboration is an exciting intersection between art, science and conservation, and today's announcement marks the first reveal of the artwork's subject and design inspiration.

The mosaic will provide a new focal point for visitors during ZSL's 200th anniversary year and beyond, inviting people to reflect on the organisation's past while inspiring future generations to care about wildlife and the natural world –just like Joan Procter did. 

Founded in 1826, ZSL has spent two centuries working to restore wildlife and support ecosystems around the globe. Today its mission continues through conservation projects in more than 80 countries, alongside its two conservation zoos: London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo.

Find out more: www.zsl.org/200

About ZSL 

Founded in 1826, ZSL is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world; by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, helping people and wildlife live together and inspiring support for nature. Through our leading conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, we bring people closer to nature and use our expertise to protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow.  

Visit www.zsl.org for more information.   

About Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy 

CAS *Consultancy has been providing strategic art and cultural services for more than 30 years. Our knowledge of the field is unparalleled, with work ranging from cultural placemaking strategies to bespoke art opportunities.  

Curating and managing projects in a range of contexts and environments, we work with outstanding artists to produce collections, events, art strategies and public art commissions of the highest calibre. Our projects contribute to the cultural life of the UK.   

What differentiates us from other art advisors is that we are a charity. Our work enables Contemporary Art Society to support living artists and build critical knowledge around contemporary art. Consultancy fees support the organisation’s charitable mission: to develop public collections across the UK for the benefit of audiences everywhere.  

We make Great Art for Great Places.