Artist selected for ‘Breaking the Bronze Ceiling’ monument

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Lexington city officials gathered Wednesday to announce the artist selected for the ‘Breaking the Bronze Ceiling’ monument.

Mayor Linda Gorton said, “The monument will tell the world what an important contribution women have made to the city of Lexington and remind women how far we’ve come and how far we’ve to go.”

District 9 councilmember Jennifer Mossotti, who along with Councilmember Kathy Plomin is leading the Breaking the Bronze Ceiling committee, announced the artist Barbara Grygutis was selected.

Grygutis has been commissioned to create over 75 large-scale works of public art throughout North America, and is recognized internationally for her sculptural environments. You can view more of her work HERE.

Mayor Gorton said they selected Grygutis out of 127 submissions in their nationwide appeal for an artist. A professional panel of artists and design panelists then selected four artists who came in to present their proposals in person in September.

Grygutis describes the monument as “silhouettes of suffragettes.”

“I wanted to convey a sense of the time but also do this in a contemporary medium,” said Grygutis.

Grygutis said five figures will form the line and will sit on 6-inch granite pedestal to elevate it above the planter. While she said it typically takes a year, they plan to complete the monument in nine months.

The site for the monument is on the Lexington Financial Center Plaza, near the corner of Vine and Mill Streets. Dudley Webb and Webb companies made the site available which will overlook the Town Branch Commons Trail.

Mayor Gorton said work is expected to begin in August 2020 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment to the constitution which granted women the right to vote.

Mayor Gorton said they’ve secured $350,000 in their $500,000 goal. The next $50,000 in gifts will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis.