A new 12-foot-tall bronze statue of a Black woman unveiled in New York’s Times Square has sparked controversy on social media. The sculpture, titled “Grounded in the Stars,” was created by British artist Thomas Price and depicts a young Black woman with shoulder-length braids, a t-shirt, and pants. It was unveiled on April 29 at Times Square plaza, at Broadway and 46th Street, as part of a public arts program.
The statue has received mixed reactions online. Some critics voiced their displeasure, with one stating, “They tear down statues of American heroes and replace them with statues of random obese Black women.” Similarly, another criticized, “Over 50% of Black women in America are obese, and we build public statues glorifying that reality. Are we empowering them, or institutionalizing dysfunction?”
In response, the artist and his supporters defended the work.
Price emphasized the symbolic importance of Times Square as a place where diverse stories and experiences intersect. “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,” he said in a statement. The Times Square Arts program, responsible for bringing the piece to the plaza, also praised the statue.
“In her depiction, one recognizes a shared humanity, yet the contrapposto pose of her body and the ease of her stance is a subtle nod to Michelangelo’s David,” the program noted in a statement. “Through scale, materiality, and posture, the statue disrupts traditional ideas around what defines a triumphant figure and challenges who should be rendered immortal through monumentalization.”
Some social media users have lauded the sculpture.
Statue ignites mixed reactions
One influencer praised it for representing the everyday Black woman. “She looks like your mother, your aunties, your cousins, your nieces. Any Black woman in your family—she looks like.
She looks like me. (And) I am very happy that she is there,” she wrote. Another commenter noted that the statue challenges societal perceptions.
“After researching the meaning of this Black woman statue in Times Square… I can confidently say that a lot of Black people have a severe issue with seeing Black people portrayed normally in public, or in any way that’s not ‘excellent,'” she said. According to Times Square’s website, the statue will remain on display until June 17. This work follows the recent unveiling of Price’s stop-motion animation art installation, “Man Series,” which is part of Times Square Arts’ digital public art program.
The series showcases plasticine heads of Black men and can be observed nightly from 11:57 p.m. to midnight until May 31. Price hopes both “Grounded in the Stars” and “Man Series” will foster meaningful connections and encourage deeper reflections on the human condition and cultural diversity.
