A Monument That Stops People in Their Tracks
A towering new art piece has taken over the heart of New York City. A 12-foot bronze statue of a young Black woman now stands tall in Times Square. Crowds pause to take pictures, admire the sculpture, and reflect on its bold presence.
Created by British artist Thomas J Price, the statue is called “Grounded in the Stars.” The woman is dressed in everyday clothes, yet stands with the calm confidence of a historic hero. It’s a direct nod to Michelangelo’s famous David, but this time, the figure reflects a face too often left out of grand monuments.
Thomas J Price Challenges Who Gets Remembered
Thomas J Price is no stranger to public art that sparks conversation. With “Grounded in the Stars,” he invites people to rethink who deserves to be honored in towering statues. “It challenges people’s internal landscapes,” Price said.
The artist hopes the work will help people connect to one another through shared emotion. “Through scale, materiality, and posture, it disrupts traditional ideas around what defines a triumphant figure,” reads the installation’s description on the Times Square website.
A Fictional Woman, A Real Statement
While the statue’s figure isn’t based on a single person, she represents millions. The character was imagined through public observations and open calls held from London to Los Angeles. She stands not for celebrity, but for everyday power.
Price explained that if viewers believe people of certain races or genders don’t belong on such a platform, seeing this figure forces them to question those beliefs. It’s a quiet yet defiant stand against old standards of representation.
“Midnight Moment” and More Public Art
This powerful piece is part of a larger moment for Price in Times Square. His other project, “Man Series,” features sculpted male faces animated on 95 digital screens every night from 11:57 p.m. to midnight throughout May.
Both works contrast sharply with the square’s older statues of playwright George M. Cohan and priest Francis P. Duffy—figures of white male history. Price’s goal is to widen the cultural conversation, making space for new icons in public memory.
Where and When to See the Statue
“Grounded in the Stars” will remain on view in Times Square at Broadway Avenue and 46th Street until June 17, 2025. Visitors can see the piece any time, surrounded by the constant pulse of the city.
Price’s work has also extended to the Hauser & Wirth gallery in New York City, where his “Resilience of Scale” exhibition runs until June 14, 2025. That show features five more bronze figures created in a similar spirit of representation and reflection.
