TOM BOWER’S SCULPTURES STUDIO
A sculptor’s garden studio above Baie Lazare, where lifelike bronze figures stand among the trees. One of the most personal and unexpected stops on Mahe, and a warm welcome from the artist’s world.
Bronze among the trees
High on the hillside above Baie Lazare, on the south-west of Mahe, the sculptor Tom Bower has made a studio and garden that is quite unlike anything else on the island. Here, among the greenery and the sea views, stand his bronze figures, expressive, lifelike human forms that catch a gesture or a mood and hold it. Coming upon them in a garden rather than a white-walled gallery gives the work a directness that stays with you.
Bower has long been associated with Seychelles and its people, and his sculptures often carry the warmth and humour of island life. The setting, part workshop and part sculpture garden, lets you see finished pieces in the open air and get a sense of how they are made.
A personal welcome
This is a small, personal place, not a ticketed attraction with a car park and a gift shop. Visitors are generally welcomed warmly, and part of the pleasure is the chance to talk about the work and the process in the setting where it is created. It is the kind of stop that turns a beach day into something you remember for the conversation as much as the art.
The studio sits close to the beaches and coves of the south-west, so it folds easily into a day exploring that beautiful corner of Mahe.
Know before you go
| Where | On the hillside above Baie Lazare, south-west Mahe |
| What | A working sculpture studio and bronze-filled garden |
| Good for | Art lovers, something different, a warm personal visit |
| Etiquette | A small private studio, visit with courtesy and interest |
| Time to allow | Around half an hour to an hour |
| Nearby | The south-west beaches and coves are close by |
What visitors say
★ 4.8 · 6 Google reviews★★★★★Visited the studio in 2015. Excellent sculptures. I enjoyed his open discussions. He shared us interesting personal stories and the beauty of the community as well.
Yilikal Getachew Teffera · via Google
★★★★★A great artist and a very communicative friendly person.
Ole Bock · via Google
The studio sits above the south-west coast among the beaches and coves, an unusual and rewarding stop on a guided tour of the south. Base yourself on Mahe to reach this side of the island easily.
Traveller favouriteWild South full-day guided tourfrom €128 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Anse Soleil · Anse Takamaka · Anse Intendance
Go with time to talk, not just to look. Half the charm of this place is the conversation about the work in the garden where it is made, which is not something a normal gallery can offer.
