“I installed the sculpture in New York because this is where he built his image, his empire, his legend,” artist James Colomina told USA TODAY.
Red Donald Trump sculpture appears in New York City manhole
French artist James Colomina installed a red Trump sculpture with a rat in a New York City manhole.
President Donald Trump appeared in New York City on July 23, or rather, a characterized version of him did.
French artist James Colomina installed a life-size sculpture of the president, titled “Donald,” in Manhattan on the morning of July 23. The artist told USA TODAY that he installed the sculpture around 7 a.m. local time, though it has since been removed.
The bright red sculpture, made of resin, depicted Trump from the waist up, emerging from a manhole, also part of the sculpture. Wearing a suit and tie, the statue portrayed a serious-looking and pursed-lipped Trump looking upward at the skyscraper above him. Under the manhole cover lid, a small red rat peered outward.
“I installed the sculpture in New York because this is where he built his image, his empire, his legend,” Colomina told USA TODAY via email. “A city he tried to conquer with golden towers and brutal slogans. I wanted this image – a red body rising from the sewers – to disturb that landscape.”
The sculpture was created in about three weeks at his studio in France, Colomina said. He then disassembled and transported it to New York, and later reassembled the sculpture on site.
Colomina posted a photo of the sculpture to his Instagram story on July 23, with the caption “Make America Grime Again,” a reference to Trump’s popular motto, “Make America Great Again.”
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told USA TODAY that while many artists attempt to capture Trump’s “powerful aura,” few can do so.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Jackson said. “This ‘artist’ will have to go back to the drawing board. Or perhaps art school.”
Where was the sculpture located?
The sculpture was located at the corner of East 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, in front of The News Building, which is about a mile away from Trump Tower. It was removed by a maintenance worker for SL Green Realty Corp., the company that owns the skyscraper.
“The sculpture is installed right across from the Chrysler Building, a symbol of power, elevation, and architectural pride,” Colomina told USA TODAY. “I liked the idea of creating a stark contrast between this vertical monument and the grotesque figure emerging from the sewers.”
Who is James Colomina?
Colomina is a street artist, known for his bright red, life-size sculptures, which have been installed in Tokyo, Barcelona, Paris, and many other cities.
“The ‘Colomina Red,’ the artist’s visual signature, embodies the anger, passion, and urgency of the issues he tackles,” Colomina’s artist biography on the Galeries Bartoux website states. “James Colomina favors a clandestine, spontaneous approach: He places his works directly in the street, without prior announcement, transforming everyday spaces into platforms for artistic reflection.”
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Do you have a story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.