Little Boy Lost, Contemporary sculpture at Tamarama Beach, Australia

Little Boy Lost is a contemporary sculpture at Tamarama Beach depicting a child-sized figure carved from silicone rubber and fiberglass. The work stands directly on the sand, integrated into the coastal environment.

Paul Trefry made Little Boy Lost for Sculpture by the Sea in 2009, when it stood on Tamarama Beach south of Bondi for the exhibition's run. The work is an over-sized silicone rubber and fibreglass figure modelled on a toddler of about 18 months to 2 years. The sources record no later permanent installation.

The work was made for Sculpture by the Sea, the free outdoor exhibition held each spring along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. Its title, Little Boy Lost, borrows the name of a 1950s Australian song about a child missing at a beach, which visitors often recognise.

The sculpture stood on the sand at Tamarama Beach, south of Bondi, for the 2009 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. Tamarama is reached on foot along the coastal walk from Bondi; the sand is exposed and unshaded, so check surf and weather conditions before crossing the beach.

The sculpture faces constant exposure to salt water, sand, and coastal winds that gradually affect its materials and appearance over time. This natural weathering creates a changing experience for repeat visitors.