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The 12-Foot Bronze Black Woman Statue That Shocked Times Square: Inside The 'Grounded In The Stars' Controversy

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The towering 12-foot bronze statue of a Black woman, titled Grounded in the Stars, has become one of the most talked-about pieces of public art in recent memory, sparking a furious debate that reveals deep-seated tensions about race and representation in America. Unveiled in the heart of New York’s Times Square, this monumental sculpture by British artist Thomas J. Price, which depicts a casually dressed, plus-sized young woman with her hands on her hips, was installed to challenge traditional notions of who deserves to be monumentalized. As of December 2025, the conversation surrounding the artwork remains highly charged, with its presence forcing a confrontation between the ideal of public commemoration and the reality of a divided society.

The statue’s arrival on April 29, 2025, at the intersection of Broadway and 46th Street, immediately drew attention, not just for its colossal size but for the deliberate choice of its subject: an ordinary Black woman, standing with an air of "unbothered" confidence. The artist's intention was clear—to elevate the everyday, to place a figure often marginalized or overlooked onto a pedestal in one of the world's most visible locations. However, this powerful artistic statement was quickly met with a wave of intense and often racist backlash across social media, highlighting the very issues of identity and prejudice the work sought to address.

The Artist and the Monument: Thomas J. Price's Vision

Thomas J. Price, the acclaimed British sculptor behind Grounded in the Stars, is known for his work that explores the complex relationship between power, status, and representation in public spaces. Price’s artistic practice often focuses on creating figurative sculptures that move away from the traditional, heroic, or historical figures typically found on monuments. Instead, he casts ordinary individuals—often Black people—in elevated, monumental form, forcing viewers to question their own assumptions about who is worthy of public commemoration.

  • Full Name: Thomas J. Price
  • Nationality: British
  • Born: 1983
  • Education: Chelsea College of Art and Design; Royal College of Art
  • Key Themes: Representation, social power, identity, and the monumentalization of the everyday.
  • Statue Name: Grounded in the Stars (2023)
  • Material: Bronze
  • Height: 12 feet (approximately 3.7 meters)
  • Location: Times Square, New York City (Broadway and 46th Street)
  • Exhibition Date: Unveiled April 29, 2025 (as part of a series called "Grounded in the Stars")
  • Inspiration: The figure is not a portrait of one person but a composite of individuals Price has observed, embodying a sense of self-possession and inner strength.

The choice of a 12-foot scale is crucial to Price’s message. By using the monumental language of traditional public sculpture—the vast size, the durable bronze material, the prominent location—he grants an undeniable sense of importance and permanence to a figure who would typically be invisible in such a setting. This technique, which he has employed in other works, is a direct challenge to the historical exclusion of Black and non-elite bodies from the public art landscape.

Decoding the Meaning: Why 'Grounded in the Stars' is So Powerful

The title, Grounded in the Stars, encapsulates the statue's dual nature: a figure who is firmly rooted in the present, everyday world (Grounded), yet possesses an aspirational, almost cosmic, inner dignity (in the Stars). The woman is depicted in casual clothing, with her hair in braids, standing with a posture that is both relaxed and defiant—her hands on her hips, her gaze unapologetic.

The sculpture intentionally contrasts with the surrounding environment of Times Square, which is dominated by fleeting commercial images and historical monuments that rarely reflect the diversity of the city's inhabitants. By placing this figure there, Price achieves several key intentions:

  • Challenging the Canon: Most historical monuments in New York and other major cities depict white men, often military figures or political leaders. Grounded in the Stars directly interrupts this narrative, demanding that the public acknowledge the significance of the everyday Black woman.
  • Elevating the Ordinary: The figure is deliberately an 'everywoman,' representing the vast, unseen population of Black women whose contributions often go unacknowledged. This act of monumentalization is a celebration of resilience, self-worth, and quiet power.
  • Creating a Mirror: For Black women, the statue provides a rare and powerful moment of public recognition and validation, a reflection of their own identity on a grand scale. It is an affirmation of their presence and inherent dignity.

The Unavoidable Controversy and Misogynoir Backlash

The response to the 12-foot statue was immediate and polarized, quickly becoming a flashpoint for conversations about race, art, and public space. While many celebrated the statue as a long-overdue symbol of representation and a powerful piece of contemporary art, a significant and vocal backlash emerged, primarily on social media.

This negative reaction was often laced with racism and misogynoir—a specific form of prejudice directed at Black women. Critics attacked the statue's size, its subject's body type (often described in derogatory terms as "plus-sized" or "fat"), and the very idea that an ordinary Black woman deserved a monumental presence in such a prominent location.

The nature of the criticism, however, inadvertently validated the statue's purpose. The intense, often hateful, reaction proved that the mere presence of a monumental Black female figure in a space traditionally reserved for others is still seen as a radical and threatening act by some. The controversy itself became part of the artwork's narrative, revealing the uncomfortable truth about public perception and the enduring struggle for equitable representation.

Key Entities and Themes in the Debate

The discussion surrounding Grounded in the Stars is rich with complex entities and socio-political themes:

  • Misogynoir: The intersectional prejudice against Black women was evident in the specific nature of the online attacks.
  • Public Art and Inclusion: The debate centers on who controls the narrative of public history and who is deemed worthy of being immortalized in bronze.
  • Times Square: The location itself is a key entity, a global stage amplifying both the statue’s message and the ensuing backlash.
  • Racial Division: Some commentators, whether supporting or criticizing the work, noted that the statue has inevitably stirred up conversations about racial division.
  • Contemporary Sculpture: The work is a prime example of how modern artists are using the medium of sculpture to engage with current social and political issues, moving away from historical portraiture.
  • Identity Politics: The statue is a powerful symbol in the ongoing discourse about identity, challenging assumptions about normalcy and visibility.
  • Bronze Casting: The use of this traditional, enduring material gives the figure a sense of timeless authority.
  • Unbothered Stance: The physical posture of the woman—hands on hips—is an entity of its own, signifying defiance and self-assuredness.

Ultimately, Thomas J. Price’s 12-foot statue of a Black woman in Times Square, Grounded in the Stars, is more than just a piece of art; it is a cultural lightning rod. It serves as a necessary, colossal reminder that representation matters, and that the fight for visibility for marginalized groups continues to be a contentious battleground in the public sphere. Its enduring presence in one of the world's most visible locations ensures that the conversation about who we choose to honor—and why—will not fade anytime soon.

12 foot black woman statue
12 foot black woman statue

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