In the heart of Times Square, a striking new sculpture is sparking debate well beyond the art world.
Unveiled in Duffy Square at Broadway and 46th Street, Grounded in the Stars is a 12-foot bronze statue by British artist Thomas J. Price. The work features a plus-size black woman standing in a relaxed pose, dressed in everyday clothing — an image that stands in sharp contrast to the typical heroic or idealized figures found in public monuments.
“She represents a shared humanity,” the Times Square website states. “Yet the contrapposto pose and ease of her stance offer a subtle nod to Michelangelo’s David. Through scale, materiality, and posture, Grounded in the Stars disrupts traditional ideas of triumph and challenges who we choose to immortalize.”
12-foot statue of a plus-size Black woman in Times Square was inspired by Michelangelo’s David, according to the official Times Square site.pic.twitter.com/SQlsaqWOBL
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) May 7, 2025
The statue, on display through June 17, is part of a larger project by Price that explores identity, representation, and monumentality in public spaces. The figure is fictional, not modeled on a specific person, but crafted as a composite.
Presented by Times Square Arts, the sculpture has also been positioned in intentional contrast to the square’s two permanent statues: both “white men” — the Rev. Francis Duffy, a World War I chaplain, and Broadway icon George M. Cohan.
“Price’s work offers a chance to experience Times Square differently,” the organization said, “inviting personal reflection and empathy amid the area’s usual chaos.”
Reactions on social media have been polarized. While some have praised the piece for challenging conventional norms, others have criticized it.
“What did she do, win a hot dog eating contest?” one commenter wrote.
Another said, “She looks like Letitia James to me.”
Some questioned the cost of the installation: “How much did NYC taxpayers pay for this?”
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The comparison to Michelangelo’s David also drew backlash: “Comparing this to David may be the dumbest thing I’ve heard this year,” one user commented.
Another added, “I’m going to go out on a limb and guess Michelangelo wouldn’t be flattered by the ‘subtle nod.’”