Something unmissable is galloping into Birmingham this October. If you are exploring the city centre during Birmingham Tech Week (19–23 October), keep an eye out for a six-metre-tall, colourful horse on wheels landing right in the heart of town.

Titled Faster Horse, this playful sculpture by artist Bruce Asbestos is a bold addition to the high street, serving as the visual focal point for Frontiers Day (21 October). It is a vibrant celebration of the West Midlands’ restless creative energy and long history of fresh thinking.

Here is the story behind the installation, why it is coming to Brum, and how you can turn your visit into a full day out exploring a region that helped shape the modern world.
 


The Idea Behind the Horse

The inspiration stems from Henry Ford’s famous line:

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
 

At the time, people could not picture the motor car, they could only imagine slightly quicker versions of what they already knew. Artist Bruce Asbestos took that metaphor literally, creating a bright, eye-catching horse on wheels.

In a world full of rapid technological shift and debates around artificial intelligence, Faster Horse poses a simple question:

What happens when we stop tweaking existing ideas and start designing the future together?

The Land of Big Ideas: Did You Know It Started Here?

Faster Horse does not just focus on modern tech, it honours a city and region with a phenomenal track record of inventions and global culture.

Birmingham and the West Midlands has given the world many of its favourite staples:

 

  • Balti: Birmingham’s Balti Triangle helped put the city on the culinary map, with its distinctive balti cuisine becoming a defining part of the city’s South Asian food culture.
     
  • Bicycles: Coventry was a birthplace of the modern bicycle industry, with James Starley’s pioneering designs helping transform how the world travels.
     
  • Cadbury & Bournville: John Cadbury opened his first shop in Birmingham in 1824, transforming chocolate making and creating the garden village of Bournville. Today, Cadbury World remains one of Britain’s favourite family days out.
  • The Football League: The world’s first Football League was with Birmingham club Aston Villa among its founding members, helping shape the future of professional football.
     
  • Heavy metal: Birmingham is widely recognised as the birthplace of heavy metal, with local legends Black Sabbath pioneering the genre in the late 1960s.
     
  • Jet engine: Coventry played a pivotal role in the birth of jet-powered flight, with Sir Frank Whittle developing the technology that revolutionised aviation.
     
  • Lawn Tennis: Was invented in Birmingham: Forget SW19 for a moment, modern lawn tennis was actually devised in Edgbaston in 1859 by Augurio Perera and Harry Gem.
  • Shakespeare’s Words: Down the road in Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare was born, changing literature and the English language forever.
     
  • Typhoo Tea: Founded in Birmingham in 1903 by John Sumner, Typhoo introduced pre-packaged tea leaf blends across the UK, cementing the nation’s love for a good cuppa!
     

From chocolate and tea to grand slams and heavy metal, taking ambitious leaps into the unknown is simply part of the regional DNA.

From Industrial Roots to the UK's Home of Experience

It is fitting that a bold, interactive installation like Faster Horse is landing in Birmingham. The West Midlands has spent centuries bringing people together, evolving from crafting the world’s first industrial breakthroughs to becoming the true Home of Experience.

Anchored by the NEC Campus and world-class venues across the region, millions gather here every year for major live shows, cultural moments, and international expos. That legacy of ambition continues: proving that whether you are hosting a blockbuster exhibition, inventing a new sport, or shaping the future of digital art, the big moments always start right here.


Must-Visit Cultural Landmarks Nearby

If you are visiting Birmingham this week (19-23 October), look out for Faster Horse, and visit local landmarks that represent the innovative culture of our region:


Art, History & Architecture

  • Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery: Discover Birmingham’s pioneering spirit at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, where world-class collections celebrate the city’s innovative industrial, artistic and cultural heritage
     
  • Ikon Gallery & Centenary Square: Explore contemporary art inside a striking neo-Gothic former schoolhouse, situated in the city's central square.
     
  • Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum: Trace the story of West Midlands industry, featuring historic steam engines alongside interactive science exhibits.
     
  • The Library of Birmingham: Walk up to the rooftop secret garden for panoramic views across the city skyline.

Heritage Days Out

How to Get Involved During Your Visit

  • Play the Interactive Game: Keep an eye out for the digital Faster Horse game created alongside local school pupils, where players navigate through regional landmarks and historic inventions.

  • Join Frontiers Day at Birmingham Tech Week Drop by on 21 October for creative showcases, pop-up talks, and family-friendly activities around the sculpture.

 

Plan Your Visit

  • What: Faster Horse inflatable sculpture by Bruce Asbestos
  • When: Birmingham Tech Week (19–23 October) | Frontiers Day (21 October)
  • Share Your Photos: Snapping a picture with the installation? Tag @VisitBirmingham, @BOMlab, and use #ItStartsHereWM and #BrumTechWeek.
     

     

Whether you’re coming for the art, history, family days out or simply looking for more things to see and do, you’ll quickly discover why the West Midlands remains a place where great ideas begin.