Fearless Girl Statue in New York

Kristen Visbal’s iconic Fearless Girl statue has been the subject of heated and ongoing contestation since its installation on New York’s Wall Street in 2017 and its subsequent relocation. Controversy arose over the significance and suitability of its original positioning opposite Arturo Di Modica’s Charging Bull (1989). The statue also sparked discourse regarding appropriate representations of female empowerment and the relationship between artwork and advertising. In 2018, the piece was relocated to Broad Street, facing the New York Stock Exchange. This case study explores the controversy surrounding one of New York’s most iconic and well-known symbolic representations.