The Art and Indignity of Sports Statues

NEW YORK, NY — Sports statues can be a source of great ridicule. While they aim to immortalize athletic greatness, many fail to do so artistically, drawing scorn instead of admiration from fans. One exception is the abstract sculpture of Arthur Ashe, titled Soul in Flight. This piece, created by artist Eric Fischl, stands prominently near the U.S. Open tennis tournament, which runs until September 7. The statue, unveiled in 2000, captures Ashe’s grace and activism in a way that most sports statues do not.

Fischl’s Ashe appears as if it’s soaring upward, a contrast to the stiff and clumsy depictions that plague many other athlete statues. While most fail in their representation, Fischl noted that the challenge lies in rendering motion with fixed materials. The British art historian Kenneth Clark once remarked that human bodies can be awkward to depict, yet Fischl succeeded beautifully with Ashe’s likeness.

In contrast, Dwyane Wade‘s statue outside the Kaseya Center in Miami evokes horror rather than nostalgia. Rather than a dynamic portrayal of his basketball skill, Wade appears stiff and zombie-like, provoking viral memes and even criticism from NBA titans Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal, both of whom suggested the statue be taken down.

Washington D.C.’s Nationals Park features a bronze statue of Walter Johnson, another work by sculptor Omri Amrany, which has been criticized for its bizarre inaccuracies, including an extra hand. Amrany responded to criticism, emphasizing that public art invites differing opinions, and insisted that each piece is created with care and artistry.

The Amrany firm has produced over 250 sports statues, including one for Michael Jordan that receives mixed reviews. Critics note that while the sculpture captures the essence of his athletic prowess, some proportions seem awkward.

On a different note, the New England Patriots commissioned a statue of Tom Brady by Jeff Buccacio, which, while a good likeness, has been described as “inert,” failing to capture Brady’s dynamic skills on the field. Feedback from a Boston.com poll showed the statue’s reception was lukewarm, with many finding it lackluster.

Art historian Edith Hamilton noted that future generations will judge our society based on the art we leave behind. Effective sports art should resonate deeply with the athlete’s struggle for greatness, capturing their essence rather than creating a hollow representation. The inconsistency in sports statue quality raises questions about artistic integrity and societal values.

Fischl’s Ashe transcends these issues, depicting the athlete’s legacy with emotional depth and artistic merit. It stands as a testament to what sports sculptures can achieve when artistry and intention align.