A towering new statue in Times Square is stirring national debate after images circulated on social media showing what many described as an “obese black woman” standing in stark contrast to the area’s traditional monuments. The 12-foot sculpture, Grounded in the Stars, created by London-based artist Thomas J. Price, will be on display through June 17.
Price says the figure is intended to reflect the “inner worlds” of people and promote empathy and cultural diversity. The curators call it a “subtle nod to Michelangelo’s David,” noting it “disrupts preconceived ideas of what defines a triumphant figure” and contrasts the area’s longstanding monuments of historical white male figures, such as Chaplain Francis P. Duffy and George M. Cohan.
Critics were quick to respond.
Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire slammed the installation, saying, “They tear down statues of American heroes and replace them with statues of random obese black women. That’s because the Left has no historical heroes.” Dave Rubin added, “This is the type of art that is designed to destroy souls.” Collin Rugg mocked the comparison to Michelangelo, stating sarcastically, “Wow, I can barely tell the difference.”
Despite the backlash, some pedestrians in Times Square praised the work as a celebration of inclusion. The piece was funded by a coalition of progressive foundations and government bodies, including the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, Morgan Stanley, and the New York State Council on the Arts.
The statue is part of a broader exhibition titled Resilience of Scale, Price’s first major solo show in New York. His work will also feature in Times Square’s “Midnight Moment” program, with digital displays from his Man Series lighting up 90 billboards nightly.
While supporters see the statue as a reflection of modern identity and progress, detractors argue it symbolizes the cultural decline of public art and the Left’s dismissal of traditional values and historical figures.
