The dazzling, dizzying chaos of Times Square has a new, statuesque resident, and she’s not here to sell you discount Broadway tickets (probably). Towering at a cool 12 feet of bronze, this artwork, “Grounded in the Stars” by the rather talented Thomas J. Price, has landed like a sophisticated tourist amidst the Elmos and costumed superheroes. Her mission? To politely (and very firmly, given her size) “contrast” the neighborhood’s existing bronzed gentlemen.
Now, about this “contrast.” You’ve got your classic historical dudes, right? Father Duffy, looking contemplative, and George M. Cohan, probably mid-jazz hand. Then BAM! In strides this powerful bronze woman, and the internet did what the internet does best: collectively tilt its head and go, “Wait a minute… does anyone else see Letitia James chilling in Times Square?”
The resemblance, shall we say, has been a hot topic. Social media has been buzzing like a Times Square electric billboard, with folks doing double-takes and firing off side-by-side pics. Some are convinced it’s a secret artistic tribute. Others are just enjoying the unexpected celebrity doppelganger hanging out with the Naked Cowboy’s usual audience. Imagine the selfies! “Just me and my giant bronze Tish!”
Of course, the official word is that it’s a broader statement on representation and modern identity. But you can’t deny the comedic timing. Here’s this imposing figure, arriving just to give the old guard a bit of a “new sheriff in town” vibe, and she happens to bear a striking resemblance to New York’s Attorney General. You almost expect her to suddenly point a giant bronze finger and declare, “You’re under investigation… for crimes against good taste in billboards!” (Okay, maybe not, but you get the picture.)
This magnificent, and slightly uncanny, monument arrived on April 29th, 2025, and sadly, her reign over the Crossroads is as fleeting as a celebrity marriage in Hollywood. She’s packing her bags (or rather, getting craned onto a flatbed) on June 17th, 2025. So, if you’re in town, you’ve got a limited window to go and have your “Wait, is that…?” moment in person.
Whether you see a powerful piece of art making a statement, or you chuckle at the giant bronze doppelganger holding court amongst the tourists, “Grounded in the Stars” is definitely adding a memorable, and slightly humorous, chapter to the ongoing saga of Times Square. Go see her before she’s gone – who knows when we’ll get another statue that accidentally sparks so much delightful confusion!