A permanent public sculpture at the corner of Grand Concourse and Morris Avenue has quickly turned into one of the Bronx’s more heated sidewalk debates. Installed last November, the piece has split the neighborhood: some residents see a tribute to the borough’s resilience, others see an eyesore and are already worried about visible wear. The argument only sharpened this week after national coverage once again spotlighted both the work and its creator’s controversial past.
The monument and where it stands
Phoenix Ladder: Monument to the People of the Bronx is a site-specific work made of terracotta, brick and steel that its creator says honors generations who rebuilt the borough. The sculpture was unveiled on November 8, 2025, at the corner of…..