A mega 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a young Black individual sits on the northern side of Duffy Square on Broadway.

It’s facing the 46th and 47th streets. This installation features the woman standing with her hands on her hips while dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of pants.

She’s gazing out into the open space. The statue is a part of the series called Grounded in the Stars by leading UK figurative artist Thomas J. Price in the attempt to assist in deconstructing preconceived notions of people’s identities, which also emphasizes how a Black person can claim the space freely on their own grounds.

‘I hope this statue will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that enable deeper reflection around the human condition and a greater sense of cultural diversity.

 

 

‘The work is a composite fictional character, unfixed and boundless, and enables many to imagine what it would be like to take on space neutrally without any kind of preconceived ideas and misrepresentation’- the makers shared. But so far, it’s not working, and many cannot help but complain about what’s on display as they feel disconnected from seeing something so giant in the middle of nowhere.