Overview

• A 12-foot bronze statue titled 'Grounded in the Stars' by artist Thomas J. Price was installed in Times Square in late April and will remain on display until June 17.
• The statue depicts a fictional Black woman in everyday clothing and aims to disrupt traditional ideas of heroic public monuments while promoting cultural diversity.
• The artwork has drawn polarized reactions online, with right-wing commentators mocking its form and intent, while many Black viewers have celebrated its representation of everyday people.
• Times Square Arts Director Jean Cooney described the piece as a reflection on societal values and a tribute to shared humanity, aligning with broader national conversations about inclusivity in public art.
• The statue has become a focal point for cultural and political divisions, with supporters emphasizing its importance for representation and critics deriding it as an example of 'wokeness.'