The city has narrowed its search for the artist tasked with designing Philadelphia’s permanent statue of Harriet Tubman.
Five artists have been selected as semifinalists after 50 people responded to the city’s Call for Artists, which was open to artists nationwide. The winning design will become a permanent statue displayed at City Hall that celebrates Tubman’s life, legacy, and contributions to our nation’s history.
“The Harriet Tubman statue will be the first statue of a Black female historic figure in the City of Philadelphia’s public art collection, so this is not a small project or opportunity,” said Kelly Lee, Chief Cultural Officer for the City of Philadelphia, in a statement. “In addition to their ability to create amazing statues, the semifinalists demonstrated their strong understanding of the historic significance of this project, which is exactly what we were looking for in an artist. I am excited to see each proposal and take one step closer to reaching a final design.”
The five semifinalists are:
Vinnie Bagwell is a sculptor who casts in bronze and bronze resin. A native of Yonkers, New York, she is an award-winning artist whose work has been displayed nationwide.
Richard Blake’s sculpture monuments are on display across the country. An artist and educator, Blake has deep roots in Philadelphia.
Tanda Francis is a Brooklyn, New York-based artist with an extensive resume of public art. Her work has been exhibited locally and internationally.
Alvin Pettit, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, has been sculpting and painting for more than 30 years. He has also worked as an educator and currently serves on the executive board of the Jersey City Arts Council.
Jamaican artist Basil Watson has honed his skills for more than 45 years, completing major commissions for organizations across the world.
“Each semifinalist has a unique point of view and artistic style. They shared previous works of art that illustrated their history of creating high-quality monumental statues that are both engaging and impactful,” said Marguerite Anglin, Public Art Director of the Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy (OACCE). “I am confident that we will have the best and most suitable artist for such an important installation, and I look forward to working with them.”
OACCE will host two public meetings that will be announced at a later date. The first meeting will be early in the design process where semifinalists will hear directly from Philadelphians. The second meeting will provide semifinalists the opportunity to present renderings and/or models of their statue proposals and offer Philadelphians another opportunity to provide feedback.
“We want every resident of Philadelphia to be a part of this historic moment. We encourage everyone to engage in the selection process by attending these public meetings and making their voice heard,” added Lee.
For more information about the process for commissioning Philadelphia’s Harriet Tubman statue, including the full timeline for the project, is available online.
