| Triumph of the Human Spirit | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The sculpture atFoley Square in 2022 | |
 | |
| Artist | Lorenzo Pace |
| Year | 2000 (2000) |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Black granite |
| Location | New York City, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°42′52″N74°00′10″W / 40.71445°N 74.00289°W /40.71445; -74.00289 |
Triumph of the Human Spirit is a 2000black granite sculpture byLorenzo Pace, installed atManhattan'sFoley Square, in theU.S. state ofNew York. According to the City of New York, the 50-foot-high (15.2 m), 300-short-ton (272.2 t),abstract monument is derived from the femaleantelopeChiwara forms ofBambaran art. The sculpture is sited near a rediscovered Colonial-eraAfrican Burial Ground, and its support structure alludes to the slave trade'sMiddle Passage.[1][2] Following the 1991 discovery of the African Burial Ground, the work was commissioned by the New York City Government programPercent for Art.[1][3] The work was dedicated onColumbus Day (October 12), 2000.[4] Pace feels that Columbus Day is an inappropriate date to celebrate his "work that honors the slaves, immigrants, and Indians who were wronged in this nation's formative years."[4] He and otherAfrican-Americans boycotted the unveiling because of the Columbus Day date,[5] which was chosen as a rare day in which bothNew York City MayorRudy Giuliani andUnited States SenatorDaniel Patrick Moynihan could synch their availability. The work was commissioned for $750,000 ($1.68 million in 2024), but took 8 years (including two rejections) to complete.[4] Prior to its unveiling, it seems to have been subject to efforts byChristo who was known for artistically "wrapping large structures", but Pace had taken $16,000 ($29.21 thousand in 2024) preventative measures.[4] The sculpture has received a lot of notoriety as a gathering place for demonstrations and rallies.[6]
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