Public Encouraged To Climb, Sit On, And Lean Against 'Reclining Liberty' Statue In Arlington

A reclining Lady Liberty statue has landed in Arlington.

The 25-foot sculpture, created by Zaq Landsberg and dubbed "Reclining Liberty" now graces the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington.

Landberg's statue will be on MoCA Arlington’s front lawn at Maury Park through the end of July 2024.

Reclining Liberty takes inspiration from the giant reclining Buddha statues of Asia, which represent the Buddha in one stage on the path to enlightenment and are a theme throughout Buddhist art, according to Reclining Liberty's description on the county website. 

By merging the traditional Buddhist reclining pose and the quintessential American figurative symbol, Reclining Liberty asks the viewer to contemplate the status of the ideals the Statue of Liberty represents.

The piece allows viewers to interact with the sculpture on a human level by touching, climbing, sitting atop, and leaning against the figure. Finished with a coat of copper powder and an oxidizing acid, the patina mimics the actual Statue of Liberty.

Reclining Liberty was originally installed in Morningside Park in Manhattan in April 2021 and quickly became a neighborhood landmark and a popular spot for formal and impromptu public gatherings. In May 2022, the work was relocated to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ, where she greeted visitors boarding the ferries to Liberty Island. 

An opening celebration will be held Saturday, Aug. 5.

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