Times Square sculpture of Black woman ignites debate
A towering 12-foot bronze sculpture of a Black woman, a new installation titled “Grounded in the Stars” by British artist Thomas J Price, has sparked a heated debate since its unveiling in the heart of Times Square on April 29, per artnet.com. The artwork, depicting an unidealised figure in everyday attire with hands on her hips and a contemplative gaze, aims to challenge conventional notions of identity and representation, according to presenter Times Square Arts.
While some viewers have lauded the work with positive emojis on social media, others have criticised it as an unflattering and stereotypical portrayal. Comments online have ranged from outright dismissal to accusations of the sculpture being an inaccurate and angry representation of Black American women. One Instagram user wrote, “I h8yte your statue as it’s not an accurate representation of Black American Women…you have her plainly dressed looking angry.”
Adding to the controversy, some have injected political commentary, labelling the artwork as “leftist nonsense.” Predictably, conservative voices have also weighed in, with one meme juxtaposing Price’s figure with a classical Greek sculpture under the banner “make statues great again.”
Artist Thomas J Price acknowledged the diverging opinions by reposting a social media slideshow that captured the contrasting reactions, highlighting the spectrum of Black voices in the discussion. One slide featured the question, “We are so deep in European beauty standards that the idea of a plus-size Black woman being honoured is somehow disrespectful?” Price has yet to directly comment on the ongoing dialogue.
The Times Square installation coincides with Price’s “Resilience of Scale” exhibition at Hauser and Wirth in SoHo, featuring similar monumental bronze figures of everyday Black individuals. This moment also aligns with significant exhibitions by prominent Black artists like Amy Sherald at the Whitney and Rashid Johnson at the Guggenheim, placing Black representation at the forefront of New York City’s art scene. Price’s work follows Kehinde Wiley’s previous Times Square installation of a Black man on horseback, further engaging with themes of representation in public spaces.
“Grounded in the Stars” will remain on view at Broadway and 46th Street until June 17, 2025, undoubtedly continuing to fuel conversations about art, representation, and identity in the public sphere.
•Images: Thomas J Price, Grounded in the Stars (2025)/Michael Hull/Times Square Arts
Times Square sculpture of Black woman ignites debate
A towering 12-foot bronze sculpture of a Black woman, a new installation titled “Grounded in the Stars” by British artist Thomas J Price, has sparked a heated debate since its unveiling in the heart of Times Square on April 29, per artnet.com. The artwork, depicting an unidealised figure in everyday attire with hands on her hips and a contemplative gaze, aims to challenge conventional notions of identity and representation, according to presenter Times Square Arts.
While some viewers have lauded the work with positive emojis on social media, others have criticised it as an unflattering and stereotypical portrayal. Comments online have ranged from outright dismissal to accusations of the sculpture being an inaccurate and angry representation of Black American women. One Instagram user wrote, “I h8yte your statue as it’s not an accurate representation of Black American Women…you have her plainly dressed looking angry.”
Adding to the controversy, some have injected political commentary, labelling the artwork as “leftist nonsense.” Predictably, conservative voices have also weighed in, with one meme juxtaposing Price’s figure with a classical Greek sculpture under the banner “make statues great again.”
Artist Thomas J Price acknowledged the diverging opinions by reposting a social media slideshow that captured the contrasting reactions, highlighting the spectrum of Black voices in the discussion. One slide featured the question, “We are so deep in European beauty standards that the idea of a plus-size Black woman being honoured is somehow disrespectful?” Price has yet to directly comment on the ongoing dialogue.
The Times Square installation coincides with Price’s “Resilience of Scale” exhibition at Hauser and Wirth in SoHo, featuring similar monumental bronze figures of everyday Black individuals. This moment also aligns with significant exhibitions by prominent Black artists like Amy Sherald at the Whitney and Rashid Johnson at the Guggenheim, placing Black representation at the forefront of New York City’s art scene. Price’s work follows Kehinde Wiley’s previous Times Square installation of a Black man on horseback, further engaging with themes of representation in public spaces.
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“Grounded in the Stars” will remain on view at Broadway and 46th Street until June 17, 2025, undoubtedly continuing to fuel conversations about art, representation, and identity in the public sphere.
•Images: Thomas J Price, Grounded in the Stars (2025)/Michael Hull/Times Square Arts
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