Beauty in Times Square

BRONZED & UNBOTHERED

A 12-foot Black woman statue in Times Square stirs debate. We say: it’s about time.

Towering among the flashing lights and tourist cameras of Times Square stands Grounded in the Stars, a monumental bronze sculpture by British artist Thomas J Price. The statue, depicting a full-bodied Black woman in leggings, t-shirt, and braids, doesn’t just disrupt the space—it commands it.

While online critics rushed to label it “woke,” “ugly,” or even “racist,” we at Villij News see a different story: one of representation, presence, and power. The woman portrayed isn’t a queen or superhero—she’s everyday. Real. Unapologetically Black. And that’s the point.

Price describes her as a work of modern art, comparable to Michelangelo’s David.

“Through scale, materiality, and posture, Grounded in the Stars disrupts traditional ideas around what defines a triumphant figure and challenges who should be rendered immortal through monumentalization,” Price said.

In a country where public statues rarely reflect the people walking by them, Grounded in the Stars feels like reclamation. She’s not asking to be seen—she’s demanding it.

“Times Square stands as an iconic symbol and site of convergence, uniting people from all walks of life, individual stories, and experiences intersecting on a global platform. The intention of my public works is to become part of the place they inhabit and its physical, material history, as well as the visitors that pass through and around the location, no matter how fleeting. I hope Grounded in the Stars and Man Series will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity.” 

The Man Series is part of the Midnight Moment artist series. At 11:57 pm all digital screens in Times Square reveal the same image. This is an immersive takeover, one that shows a Black man watching over a Black woman. A powerful message, we don’t see enough.

This isn’t a controversy. It’s confirmation. This isn’t racism. It’s resistance. And yes, we call it beautiful.

Grounded in the Stars will be on view from April 29 to June 17, 2025 on the Broadway plaza between 46th and 47th Streets.