Feeling baffled by public art lately? This bizarre statue might top the list
- Replies 0
It’s not every day a public art installation turns heads for all the wrong reasons.
A towering pink sculpture has appeared in one of New York’s most iconic parks—and it’s sparking confusion, outrage, and more than a few awkward glances.
As locals weigh in with disbelief, questions are mounting about what exactly this eye-catching piece is meant to represent.
A provocative new art installation in New York City has stopped pedestrians in their tracks—though not necessarily for the reasons you might expect.
At first glance, it may appear to be a playful fountain meant to cool off passersby on a summer day. But a closer look at the 10-foot-tall Foot Fountain (pink) in Manhattan’s High Line Park has left many locals shocked, disturbed, or just plain confused.
The sculpture, which will remain on display through May 2026, features a foot at its base with a flesh-toned column extending upward—complete with protruding tongues and a water-spraying sprinkler on top.
The final touch? It only activates when someone pedals a nearby machine.
One social media user summed it up with brutal honesty: ‘Oh it’s a squirting c*** statue.’
Another was even more explicit: ‘They knew what they were doing with this...it mimics a penis with warts, shooting semen out the top...they added the foot because well ya know can’t legit have it only be a giant pink d***. Imagine the children’s thoughts passing on by.’
‘The installation, created by Argentine-born artist Mika Rottenberg, has been described by its creator as ‘an overindulgent creature from my drawings’.
‘It first appeared as a small sculpture while I was doing some craft work with my daughter during the pandemic,’ she shared in a statement published on the High Line’s website.’
Originally designed for a Swiss museum to function as a whimsical irrigation device, the sculpture was repurposed for New York with a new mission—offering a cheeky reprieve from the heat.
‘Here on the High Line, instead of nurturing the well-tended gardens, I thought it should nurture and cool passersby on hot days, and share some of its overenthusiastic spirit!’ Rottenberg said.
Still, many New Yorkers weren’t buying it.
‘This is disturbing,’ one person commented under a post promoting the piece.
‘Is this a joke?’ another asked.
‘Um. That doesn’t look like a foot,’ a third wrote bluntly.
And one more suggested: ‘I’m thinking the “foot” part of this installation was a last-minute creative decision.’
Rottenberg—whose work has been exhibited in galleries around the world and who currently resides in Manhattan—unveiled her latest creation in the same spot where a 16-foot pigeon once stood.
That previous installation, by artist Iván Argote, was no less eye-catching. The massive bird was designed to flip the script on traditional statues honouring historical figures, instead celebrating an everyday urban creature towering over onlookers.
Argote’s pigeon, like Rottenberg’s foot, was meant to provoke thought and challenge the relationship between humans and the world around them.
But while the pigeon prompted chuckles and reflection, Foot Fountain (pink) has largely drawn raised eyebrows and scathing online reactions.
Whether viewed as surrealist humour or an eyesore in plain sight, Rottenberg’s piece has certainly succeeded in doing what art often strives to do—get people talking.
Whether you see it as bold creativity or just plain bizarre, this fountain is certainly leaving a lasting impression on those passing by.
If something like this popped up in your local park, would you call it art—or ask for it to be taken down?
Public art has a way of stirring conversation—whether it’s delight, outrage, or simply confusion.
While New Yorkers are grappling with a rather cheeky sculpture in a city park, Australians are seeing major changes unfold in their own backyard.
A recent story about a beloved gallery in Victoria shows just how invested communities can be in the spaces that house our shared creativity.
Read more: Bendigo Art Gallery set to close for $45 million redevelopment
A towering pink sculpture has appeared in one of New York’s most iconic parks—and it’s sparking confusion, outrage, and more than a few awkward glances.
As locals weigh in with disbelief, questions are mounting about what exactly this eye-catching piece is meant to represent.
A provocative new art installation in New York City has stopped pedestrians in their tracks—though not necessarily for the reasons you might expect.
At first glance, it may appear to be a playful fountain meant to cool off passersby on a summer day. But a closer look at the 10-foot-tall Foot Fountain (pink) in Manhattan’s High Line Park has left many locals shocked, disturbed, or just plain confused.
The sculpture, which will remain on display through May 2026, features a foot at its base with a flesh-toned column extending upward—complete with protruding tongues and a water-spraying sprinkler on top.
Bizarre fountain sculpture raises eyebrows in Manhattan. Image source: Instagram/tsiasts
The final touch? It only activates when someone pedals a nearby machine.
One social media user summed it up with brutal honesty: ‘Oh it’s a squirting c*** statue.’
Another was even more explicit: ‘They knew what they were doing with this...it mimics a penis with warts, shooting semen out the top...they added the foot because well ya know can’t legit have it only be a giant pink d***. Imagine the children’s thoughts passing on by.’
‘The installation, created by Argentine-born artist Mika Rottenberg, has been described by its creator as ‘an overindulgent creature from my drawings’.
‘It first appeared as a small sculpture while I was doing some craft work with my daughter during the pandemic,’ she shared in a statement published on the High Line’s website.’
Originally designed for a Swiss museum to function as a whimsical irrigation device, the sculpture was repurposed for New York with a new mission—offering a cheeky reprieve from the heat.
‘Here on the High Line, instead of nurturing the well-tended gardens, I thought it should nurture and cool passersby on hot days, and share some of its overenthusiastic spirit!’ Rottenberg said.
Still, many New Yorkers weren’t buying it.
‘This is disturbing,’ one person commented under a post promoting the piece.
‘Is this a joke?’ another asked.
‘Um. That doesn’t look like a foot,’ a third wrote bluntly.
And one more suggested: ‘I’m thinking the “foot” part of this installation was a last-minute creative decision.’
Rottenberg—whose work has been exhibited in galleries around the world and who currently resides in Manhattan—unveiled her latest creation in the same spot where a 16-foot pigeon once stood.
That previous installation, by artist Iván Argote, was no less eye-catching. The massive bird was designed to flip the script on traditional statues honouring historical figures, instead celebrating an everyday urban creature towering over onlookers.
Argote’s pigeon, like Rottenberg’s foot, was meant to provoke thought and challenge the relationship between humans and the world around them.
But while the pigeon prompted chuckles and reflection, Foot Fountain (pink) has largely drawn raised eyebrows and scathing online reactions.
Whether viewed as surrealist humour or an eyesore in plain sight, Rottenberg’s piece has certainly succeeded in doing what art often strives to do—get people talking.
Whether you see it as bold creativity or just plain bizarre, this fountain is certainly leaving a lasting impression on those passing by.
If something like this popped up in your local park, would you call it art—or ask for it to be taken down?
Public art has a way of stirring conversation—whether it’s delight, outrage, or simply confusion.
While New Yorkers are grappling with a rather cheeky sculpture in a city park, Australians are seeing major changes unfold in their own backyard.
A recent story about a beloved gallery in Victoria shows just how invested communities can be in the spaces that house our shared creativity.
Read more: Bendigo Art Gallery set to close for $45 million redevelopment
