'Charging Bull' Sculptor Demands 'Fearless Girl' Statue Be Moved

NEW YORK, NY — The sculptor of Wall Street's famous "Charging Bull" is pushing back against the overnight sensation of the bull's newest companion: a statue that's become known as "Fearless Girl," which depicts a small girl squaring off against the bovine companion.

Arturo di Modica, whose Charging Bull was installed in 1989, is accusing the other statue's artist and the asset management corporation that commissioned her of infringing on his copyright and using the image of his artwork to make money. The sculptor, who appeared at a press conference on Wednesday with his attorneys, is asking for the statue to moved to another location and for damages from the company, the latest in the faceoff of the real-life advocates behind each statue.

"The statue of the young girl becomes the 'Fearless Girl' only because of the Charging Bull: the work is incomplete without Mr. Di Modica's Charging Bull, and as such it constitutes a derivative work of the Charging Bull," the sculptor's legal team wrote in a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday.

The Fearless Girl, created by artist Kristen Visbal, was put in place by the asset management company State Street Global Advisors on March 7, the eve of International Women's Day. She was met with instant and nearly unanimous acclaim, before some critics questioned why a company with just 5 women on their 28-person leadership was calling for greater gender equality from other Wall Street companies.

Di Modica's legal team says that State Street improperly made money via the artist's work by including images of the bull in their advertising, and by nature of the fact that the Fearless Girl in part derives her meaning by squaring off against the bull. Di Modica also faulted the girl for putting his statue in a negative light. The bull "no longer carries a positive optimistic message," his attorney Norman Siegel said. "It's negative force and a threat."

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has applauded the statue's presence on Wall Street and supported a push to extend her permit through February 2018, tweeted dismissively about di Modica's concerns.

A spokeswoman for the mayor said he had no additional comment on di Modica's allegations.

Di Modica's legal team insisted that their request was about their client's reputation and the meaning of his work, and not an opposition to gender equality.

Siegel, previously of the ACLU and the NYCLU, said they hope to resolve the dispute "amicably" and have not yet filed a lawsuit. He declined to say how much money di Modica was seeking in damages.

A spokeswoman for State Street Global Advisors told Patch the company was reviewing a letter sent to them by di Modica's legal team.

"We continue to be grateful to the City of New York and people around the world who have responded so enthusiastically to what the Fearless Girl represents – the power and potential of having more women in leadership," the spokeswoman said in the statement. "Our goal with Fearless Girl was to create a powerful symbol to stand as a reminder to corporations across the globe that having more women in leadership positions contributes to overall performance and strengthens our economy."

The Fearless Girl, who with the bull stands on the Bowling Green plaza, has a permit to remain there through February 2018. Online petitions and city leaders have called for her to be made permanent.

Attorneys for di Modica's said they have also submitted public records request seeking more information on how the statue's placement was approved.

This post has been updated with additional information.

Lead image via Ciara McCarthy/Patch.