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"Witness" is a public sculpture created by Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander, installed on the University of Houston campus in 2024. The 18-foot-tall gilded statue, depicting a female figure with hornlike braids, tentacle arms, and a lace collar, is a tribute to women’s role in the justice system. Its symbolic elements reference broader themes of female empowerment and breaking barriers within legal frameworks. Sikander, who is known for exploring political, cultural, and social themes in her work, has stated that the sculpture is not specifically about abortion or the U.S. Supreme Court but rather an optimistic vision for women's power in the justice system.
The statue was initially commissioned by the Madison Square Park Conservancy in Manhattan and was installed there in January 2023. Its hoop skirt design was inspired by the stained-glass dome of a nearby courthouse, symbolizing the need to "break the legal glass ceiling." The work was conceived as part of a broader response to statues of male lawgivers, such as Confucius and Moses, on a nearby courthouse rooftop.
After its relocation to the University of Houston, the statue faced backlash from anti-abortion groups, which labeled it a "satanic" tribute to abortion and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These protests led to the cancellation of a scheduled talk by Sikander and an opening celebration at the university. Despite the controversy, university officials had increased surveillance of the statue in response to the protests.
On July 8, 2024, Witness was vandalized during Hurricane Beryl. The statue was beheaded in what was believed to be an intentional attack. Campus police obtained footage of the incident, and university officials launched an investigation. The artist expressed her dismay at the defacement, calling it a violent act of hate. Sikander also expressed her desire to leave the damage visible as a testament to the attack, stating that she preferred to "expose" rather than repair the statue.
The vandalism of Witness is under investigation by university authorities, who are also managing broader hurricane damage on campus. The statue remains under a tarp while conservators assess the possibility of repairs.