Public Outcry Surrounds Thomas J. Price's Large-Scale Bronze Sculpture of a Black Woman in Times Square, Stirring Up Strong Emotions Among Onlookers
In Times Square, New York City, Thomas J. Price's sculpture, Grounded in the Stars, has become a divisive figure, drawing criticism from some and admiration from others. The 12-foot-tall bronze statue, which depicts a Black woman in everyday clothing, stands as an undeniable counterpoint to the white male historical figures typically commemorated in the plaza.
Onlookers have offered a mixed reaction to the piece, with one Black woman replicating the statue's pose defiantly and a white man inappropriately touching the sculpture, mirroring the online outcry. The range of opinions toward Grounded in the Stars is a testament to its power to challenge traditional norms about monumental art and public representation.
Completed in 2023, the work is Price's first public artwork in New York City and reflects the themes of his current solo exhibition at Hauser & Wirth, Resilience of Scale. The sculpture is a stunning departure from the pedestaled monuments that normally adorn the space, instead exalting a fictional but dignified figure in a grand and regal manner.
In Price's own words, Grounded in the Stars serves as a "gesture" that aims to prompt viewers to question their internalized biases about who deserves monumental status. By elevating the figure through scale and traditional materials, the work invites the public to contemplate questions of representation, identity, and power dynamics in public art.
Price's sculpture is particularly striking in Times Square, known as the "Crossroads of the World," due to its juxtaposition against the sensory overload of the area. The work offers a moment of calm reflection in the midst of the city's chaos, creating space for contemplation on the role of monuments and the stories they tell, particularly in relation to the exclusion or underrepresentation of Black figures and everyday people in monumental art.
Ultimately, Grounded in the Stars stands as a powerful cultural intervention, elevating marginalized bodies through monumentality traditionally denied to them. The statue's presence in Times Square fosters dialogue about representation and inclusivity in public spaces, challenging viewers to reconsider their assumptions about race, gender, and status in society. Despite the controversy surrounding the work, its stance as a counterpoint to traditional norms in monumental art is undeniable.
The sculpture, Grounded in the Stars, by Thomas J. Price, located in Times Square, New York City, is a divisive figure in the art world, attracting both criticism and admiration. As Price's first public artwork in the city, it stands as a powerful cultural intervention, elevating marginalized Black figures in a traditional space usually reserved for white male historical figures. The statue, part of his current solo exhibition Resilience of Scale at Hauser & Wirth, prompts viewers to question their internalized biases about representation in the art world and public spaces. Its impact is evident in the broader context of the art world, politics, and general-news, as it fosters conversation on inclusivity and representation.
