Philadelphia Selects Alvin Pettit's Design for Harriet Tubman Statue Following Controversy Over Initial Choice

Pettit's sculpture, a tribute to Tubman's role as a military leader and freedom fighter, to be the first statue of a Black woman historical figure in Philadelphia's public art collection, portraying Tubman standing on broken shackles; project to finish by 2025.

• The city of Philadelphia selected the design by artist Alvin Pettit for a Harriet Tubman statue functioning as a tribute to her role as a military leader and freedom fighter, after controversy over the initial selection of a White artist, Wesley Wofford.
• Titled 'A Higher Power: The Call of a Freedom Fighter,' Pettit's nearly 14-foot bronze statue will be the first representation of a Black woman historical figure in Philadelphia's public art collection.
• Pettit's design offers a portrayal of Tubman in a warrior's stance, standing on broken shackles, embodying her strength, resilience, and the spirit of a freedom fighter.
• The controversy surrounding the initial selection of the statue's designer led to Philadelphia's Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, or Creative Philly, issuing an open call for submissions, yielding dozens of entries.
• The $500,000 budget for the project, funded by the city's operating budget, covers artist payment, site work, modeling, engineering, materials, and fabrication costs, with completion expected by 2025.

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