Shahzia Sikander's Witness sculpture vandalized in Houston, artist refuses repair
Shahzia Sikander's bronze sculpture Witness (2023) was vandalized on July 8 at the University of Houston in Texas during a power outage caused by Hurricane Beryl. The 5.5-meter public artwork depicts a female figure with tree-root limbs, braided ram-horn hair, and a dress with Urdu calligraphy and a lace collar reminiscent of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Previously displayed at Madison Square Park in New York for five months to critical acclaim, the sculpture faced immediate backlash in Houston from the anti-abortion Christian group Texas Right to Life, which deemed it 'satanic.' Protests led to the cancellation of the unveiling and a talk by Sikander, as well as the withholding of an accompanying video work. University of Houston Police Department is investigating the incident as intentional vandalism, with footage obtained. On July 30, Sikander announced via The Washington Post that she will not repair the sculpture, leaving it as 'a testament to the hatred and division that permeate our society.'
Key facts
- Shahzia Sikander's bronze sculpture Witness was vandalized on July 8 at the University of Houston.
- The vandalism occurred during a statewide power outage due to Hurricane Beryl.
- Witness is a 5.5-meter public sculpture depicting a female figure with tree-root limbs and ram-horn braids.
- The sculpture's lace collar references Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a proponent of abortion rights.
- The work was first displayed at Madison Square Park in New York for five months to critical acclaim.
- Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion Christian group, called the sculpture 'satanic.'
- Protests led to cancellation of the unveiling and a talk by Sikander; a video work was also withheld.
- Sikander decided not to repair the sculpture, stating it will serve as a testament to societal hatred and division.
Entities
Artists
- Shahzia Sikander
Institutions
- University of Houston
- Texas Right to Life
- University of Houston Police Department
- Madison Square Park
- The Washington Post
- The New York Times
Locations
- Houston
- Texas
- United States
- New York