Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
2011
This monumental granite sculpture depicts Martin Luther King, Jr. emerging from a "Stone of Hope," with his arms crossed and a resolute expression. It is the centerpiece of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., symbolizing his enduring legacy and vision for justice. The artwork is a powerful tribute to the civil rights leader.
- Medium
- Granite
Notes
This piece might be titled "Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial", created in 2011
Artists in conversation
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
American · b. 1848
Saint-Gaudens created monumental figurative sculptures of American historical figures in stone and bronze, most notably the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, sharing Lei Yixin's approach to resolute, dignified portraiture as civic tribute and collective memory.
Glenna Goodacre
American · b. 1939
Goodacre specialized in large scale commemorative figurative sculpture for public memorials, including the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington D.C., reflecting the same tradition of monumental granite and bronze portraiture honoring historical legacies.
Ivan Shadr
Russian · b. 1887
Shadr produced heroic monumental figurative sculptures in stone with crossed arms and resolute expressions, conveying ideological strength and collective aspiration through the human form, closely mirroring the visual language and symbolic weight of the King memorial.
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