Latest news with #ThomasJ.Price
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A 12-Foot Bronze Statue of a Black Woman Pops Up in Times Square and MAGA is Absolutely Losing it
Times Square in New York is one of the world's most popular tourist locations. Folks from all over the globe descend upon the tourist attraction all year-round, so it serves as the perfect place to make a statement. That's exactly what's happening after a stoic, 12-foot tall bronze statue of a Black woman popped up seemingly out of nowhere smack dab in the middle of Times Square. And MAGA is losing their ever-loving minds. The piece was created by artist Thomas J. Price, a relentless legal adversary of President Donald Trump who has sued his administration over immigration and environmental policies. His artwork is part of a series called 'Grounded in the Stars,' which organizers say confronts preconceived notions about identity and representation. The statue is of a woman wearing a plain T-shirt, pants, braided hair, an expressionless face and her hands resting on her hips. Times Square Arts Director Jean Cooney explained how the artwork 'is making a statement, potentially asking questions, about what we value as a city, as a society, and hopefully it's a tribute to our shared humanity.' Per Price's website, the statue was created to 'disrupt traditional ideas' about what a 'triumphant figure' ought to look like. But MAGA online don't quite see it that way and well, we can't say we're exactly surprised. Author and ex-investment banker John LeFevre took to X with a photoshopped image of the statue with Attorney General Letitia James real head edited in place. He wrote: 'My favorite thing about Letitia James is that she says 'statue of limitations' instead of 'statute.'' SMH. One conservative wrote on X: 'BREAKING: New York puts up a 25 foot bronze statue of Letitia James in Time Square.' Another X user took disrespect to a whole 'nother level with a photoshopped image of their own. Other comments from MAGA included comparisons to Lizzo, their 'confusion' that the statue was made in the image of a gorilla, and even calling the statue 'Tyquisha' who 'looks horrendous.' The racist and downright sad remarks continued on X: 'And it will be taken down once she goes to prison,' 'That statue wants to know what gratuity means,' and 'You cannot convince me that's not Fat Albert.' Another Trump-lover asked where's the 'statue of a white dude?' calling out how 'woke' the statue, and what is represents, is. But despite the online hatred, not everyone feels that way. 'Me being a plus-size Black woman, I was kind of looking at it like, I wonder what me as a small child would've thought looking at something like that, representation,' said Blessing Obieze of Dallas, per CBS News. Kansas resident Bryan Woodson called the statue 'powerful' as 'a plus-size man. I'm African American, it's an African American woman statue. So just seeing another piece for me to stop and have a moment with was very powerful to me.' 'Coming from a person of color background, it's really nice to see something come across as this everyday person,' Ruby Chirackal of Greenwich Village said. 'It looks a little bit out of place, but I also think that's because of where we are standing. It might not look out of place if everything in our surrounding reflected everyday life more to us.' The piece will be on display until June 17. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Massive Statue Of A Black Woman Debuted In Times Square, And People Aren't Happy With Her Appearance
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." Related: "Something In My Head Said, 'Don't Get Up'": 16 Older Adults Reveal The Wildest Supernatural Encounters From Their Childhood 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.." Related: 50 Of The Funniest Stories People Shared About The "Stupidest Person" They've Met "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! And to learn more, you can read his full ArtNet interview. Also in Internet Finds: People Revealed The Creepiest, Cult-Like Towns In The United States And, Jesus Christ, It's Icky Also in Internet Finds: 27 Extremely Disturbing Wikipedia Pages That Will Haunt Your Dreams Until The End Of Your Days Also in Internet Finds: 101 People Who Woke Up One Morning And Promptly Had The Most Painfully Awkward And Embarrassing Day In Human History
Buzz Feed
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
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!
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Americans are raging over the 12-foot-tall woman sculpture installed in Times Square, here's why
Times Square in New York is a local and global tourist destination. The popular spot is a hub for people visiting tourists who are amazed by the place's buzzing life and digital scape, where thousands of advertisements hoard space. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, over the years, Times Square has become more than just a popular spot. It is now a place used to give out global messages and celebrate communities and togetherness. The Times Square website itself emphasises the transition, 'Times Square stands as an iconic symbol and site of convergence, uniting people from all walks of life, individual stories and experiences intersecting on a global platform.' This was also the motive behind a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of a woman that is currently standing in Times Square. Presented by the Times Square Arts , the statue is a work of London-based figurative artist Thomas J. Price . The new installation subtly nods towards Michelangelo's David while capturing the ordinary characteristics of a woman through her posture, expression and attire. Titled ' Grounded in the Stars ', the installation aims at making people ponder over the emotion of empathy and introspect on the statue by comparing it with that of the two men in Duffy Square. The sculpture will be on display till June 17. Americans rage over 'Letitia James' statue Many people on X have been comparing the "plus size" statue to New York Attorney General Letitia James, who Trump recently labelled as "a total crook" after the Justice Department got a receipt of a criminal referral charging the Democrat of mortgage fraud. "The statue of a 12-foot-plus-size' African American woman has been erected in the middle of Time Square. Looks kinda like Leticia James" wrote a person on X. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Others have been simply mocking the creation and motive behind the statue. "This 12 ft bronze statue of an black woman was just installed in the middle of Times Square. The expression on her face looks like she's either about to cry or argue with the cashier at Target" commented an X user. Some social media users have pointed out how, rather than fighting preconceived notions, the statue is actually emphasising them writing, "it doesn't actually confront preconceived notions, does it? it actually.. . no no can't say it.' But on the contrary, others have understood what the statue really stands for, 'Love how this 12ft bronze statue in Times Square breaks the mold celebrating a plus-size Black woman in a space dominated by statues of men. It's bold, inclusive, and makes you think about who gets immortalized."
Time Out
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This giant bronze statue of a woman was just installed in the middle of Times Square
If there was ever a reason to trek to Times Square, this is it: a massive, 12-foot tall bronze sculpture of a young woman by figurative artist Thomas J. Price was just installed in the area, on the north side of Duffy Square on Broadway and 46th Street facing 47th Street. It will be on display through June 17. The public art piece is part of a series called "Grounded in the Stars," which "confronts preconceived notions of identity and representation," according to Times Square's website. Anchored by a wide base, the woman in Grounded with the Stars invites passersby to gawk and engage—standing in stark contrast to Duffy Square's two other permanent statues, both of men. Unlike those, she wears everyday clothes, her stance a subtle nod to Michelangelo's David. The statue of the woman was woven from observations, images and open calls that happened across New York, Los Angeles and London. Alongside the massive sculpture, passerby should on the lookout for another work by Price, this one on display across the neighborhood's screens. "Man Series," stop-motion animations set to play on billboards nightly in May, also involves a sculptural installation that "foregrounds the intrinsic value of the individual and amplifies traditionally marginalized bodies on a monumental scale." 'Times Square stands as an iconic symbol and site of convergence, uniting people from all walks of life, individual stories and experiences intersecting on a global platform," said Price in an official statement. "The intention of my public works is to become part of the place they inhabit and its physical, material history, as well as the visitors that pass through and around the location, no matter how fleeting. I hope 'Grounded in the Stars' and 'Man Series' will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity.'
