SPACE GLACIERS
A SCI-ART COLLABORATION
BETWEEN CONTOUR MAP COLLECTION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
ON DISPLAY AT MILLENNIUM GALLERY, SHEFFIELD, UK, 6–15th NOVEMBER 2026
Embedded Files
'Space Glaciers!' is a brass sculpture of the north polar ice cap of Mars, representing its beautiful spiral shapes and the many layers of ice it contains. The north polar cap of Mars is approximately 1000 km across, and 2-3 km thick. 'Space Glaciers!' was produced by silversmith Holly Clifford (Contour Map Collection), in collaboration with University of Sheffield researcher Dr Frances Butcher. Image credit: Holly Clifford
The North Polar Ice Cap of Mars
The North Polar Ice Cap of Mars
Did you know Mars is an icy world? Mars is famously dry, but it has frozen water in abundance, with winter temperatures at the poles reaching −130°C. This brass sculpture represents the north polar ice cap of Mars., which is approximately 1000 km across and 2-3 km thick. Mars also has a south polar ice cap, as well as thousands of smaller glaciers (buried beneath protective blankets of red dust and rocks) in valleys and impact craters closer to the equator.
The polar caps of Mars were first observed by 17th century astronomers using telescopes. Since the 1960s, humanity has sent many robotic spacecraft to visit the Red Planet to observe and measure its surface and subsurface. This sculpture represents the 3-D shape of the north polar ice cap and the layers of ice of ice contained within it.
As you admire the sculpture, notice the appearance of layers, evoked by the cuts along contours and finer-scale engraved lines. On both Earth and Mars, glaciers and ice caps build up in layers through time. Differences in the properties of successive layers (such as how much dust is mixed with the ice) reflect differences in climate conditions when each layer was forming.
Scientists think that sequences of layers in the Martian ice caps reflect changes in Martian climate through time, driven mostly by changes in the Red Planet’s tilt towards the Sun.
The Inspiration
The Inspiration
Image of the North Polar Ice Cap of Mars, captured by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on board European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. Image credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/A. Cowart, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
The sculpture is based on real scientific data returned to Earth from robotic spacecraft sent to orbit Mars. This includes images and measurements of the 3D contours of the Martian surface (its 'topography').
It is inspired by Dr Frances Butcher’s research, which uses images and 3D data from satellites orbiting Mars to understand what glacial ice layers and other landscape features can tell us about the history of glaciation and climate change on our neighbouring planet.
One motivation for this research is to understand whether Mars was ever warm and wet enough to support microbial life.
The main datasets used to design the sculpture were from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter and the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter.
Meet the creators
Meet the creators
The sculpture was comissioned for the Festival of the Mind 2026, which brings University of Sheffield researchers together with Sheffield’s creative communities.
Holly Clifford - Artist
Contour Map CollectionHolly Clifford - Artist
Holly is a jeweller and silversmith based at Yorkshire Artspace in Sheffield, working with her clients to create highly bespoke pieces of jewellery & wall art that tell their stories.
Using the contour lines of landscapes that are meaningful to them, the patterns are cut into metal then hand formed, resulting in 3D layered structures.
Incredibly personalisable, the maps are often detailed with gemstone location markers, engraved rivers, initials or coordinates and important dates.
Dr Frances Butcher - Scientist
School of Geography and Planning, University of SheffieldDr Frances Butcher - Scientist
Frances is a planetary scientist and glaciologist. She researches the history of glaciation on Mars and Earth.
Frances' Mars research primarily uses data returned to Earth from satellites orbiting the Red Planet.
Frances pursued a PhD in Planetary Science after completing an undergraduate degree in Geography.
She now holds a Royal Society-funded University Research Fellowship at the University of Sheffield.
Where to see the sculpture
Where to see the sculpture
The sculpture will be on display at :
Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, UK
6-15th November 2026
as part of the University of Sheffield's Festival of the Mind
Check back for updates on where the sculpture will travel next!
Acknowledgements
This project received funding from the University of Sheffield and a Royal Society University Research Fellowship awarded to F. Butcher.
Page updated
Report abuse