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Waiting - Detroit's Eeriest Artwork?

Field review by the editors.

Detroit, Michigan

Standing 17 feet tall, weighing two tons, a black bronze statue named "Waiting" was unveiled in Detroit in May 2018. Sculpted by former Brooklyn street artist "Kaws" (Brian Donnelly), the sculpture depicts a parent standing protectively with a child, but both have X-ed out eyes, skull-and-crossbones heads, and lower bodies that resemble a 1920s-vintage Mickey Mouse.

Perhaps we're unappreciative of modern, branded art, but Waiting reminds us of the sculptures you'd see in bad Italian Hercules movies, worshipped as a sacrificial god by the Snake Queen.

The statue was purchased for an unknown price by the Detroit founder of Quicken Loans, who placed it across from a popular park where everyone would be able to enjoy it.

Artist Donnelly, who has leapt from obscurity to designing perfume products and Nike sneakers, is a controversial figure. Less than a week after "Waiting" was unveiled, it was vandalized by other street artists.

Waiting - Detroit's Eeriest Artwork?

Address:
1 Campus Martius, Detroit, MI
Directions:
Downtown. On the north side of Woodward Ave. at its intersection with Monroe Ave. The sculpture faces south toward Campus Martius Park.
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

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In the region:
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