Controversy Erupts Over Proportions of New Martin Luther King Jr. Statue in Florida

Standing 11 feet tall and cast in bronze, the statue of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Winter Park, Florida employs metaphor through its design, with slightly enlarged shoes, left arm, and head.

The figure’s posture conveys a sense of calm, holding a thick book in one hand while waving with the other. The attire, including the blazer and pants, is sculpted with lifelike wrinkles, emphasizing a relaxed demeanor.

Unveiled last month as the centerpiece of Winter Park’s 23-acre Martin Luther King Jr. Park, the $500,000 monument was intended as a tribute to the civil rights leader.

However, the statue has become a subject of debate, echoing controversies surrounding prior memorials of Dr. King, such as the one located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Assessing any artwork is inherently subjective, but this sensitivity is heightened when the work depicts a prominent 20th-century American figure, particularly a Black leader amid a historical landscape largely dominated by white founding fathers, Civil War generals, and benefactors.

Critics have focused on the statue’s disproportionate elements: the oversized shoes symbolize the significant legacy Dr. King had to uphold; the enlarged left arm highlights the weight and influence of the untitled book he carries; and the slightly bigger head improves visibility, according to sculptor Andrew Luy from Huntsville, Alabama.