Controversial Black Woman Statue Divides Times Square
A new attraction just made its debut in Times Square, and it has a lot of people talking!
A giant 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a young Black woman now sits on the north side of Duffy Square on Broadway and 46th Street facing 47th Street.
The installation features the woman standing with her hands on her hips, dressed in a T-shirt and pants, as she gazes out into the open space.
The statue is a part of a series called "Grounded in the Stars" by British figurative artist Thomas J. Price, in an attempt to help deconstruct preconceived notions of people's identities, while also emphasizing how Black individuals can claim their space freely, on their own terms.
'I hope 'Grounded in the Stars' will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity,' Thomas told ArtNet.
'The work is a composite fictional character, unfixed and boundless, allowing us to imagine what it would be like to inhabit space neutrally without preconceived ideas and misrepresentation."
He added that the sculpture isn't based on anyone in particular, but rather a composite of images and observations. The identity was intentionally left open-ended so people can take the art piece in without assumptions and stereotypes.
Unfortunately, despite the artist's intentions, the figure got a lot of people talking and generated a ton of mixed opinions online:
"Times Square unveils a bronze 12 foot statue of the average American woman — and the colorblind conservative Christian patriots have lost what's left of their minds… Fun fact: The average height for women in America is around 5'3 — and the average weight is approximately 170lbs. In terms of clothing size — the average American woman typically wears a size 16 or 18.."
"body like bronze, presence like thunder. we need more of this energy everywhere."
"Im sure people are laughing at this in Manhattan. lol."
"Can yall just appreciate that it's a fuckin black woman regardless of her size or fashion style ? Gotttttdamnn.. yall would find an insult even in a bouquet of flowers.. idiots. Smh.. ITS A BLACK WOMAN STATUE IN TIMES SQUARE. Like, CLAP JUST FOR THAT REASON ALONE!"
"This statue is actually mocking Black people, Black women in particular. Even Lizzo and Monique realized that the joke was on them, people was laughing at them, not with them. There are way more white women than the entire Black American race, but they decided to make it black"
"Out of everything that comes to mind, the artist decided to make a heavyset Black woman, dressed in a nanny fit… & people call this art; claiming that it has a deeper meaning. yea, ok. This is pure mockery."
"The statue is a beautiful gesture but this doesn't help the black community, help get accepted by the other races, & this statue doesn't celebrate us as Black Americans as a whole. We still go unrecognized by our talents, hardworking, survival, dignity & so much more."
"Wife and I seen this up close on the 1st of May 2025. Good work of art!"
If you're in the NYC area, you'll have the chance to view the "Grounded in the Stars" installation until June 17.
What are you thoughts on the statue and Thomas's meaning behind it? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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