A newly revealed sculpture by Sarah Lucas, titled “VENUS VICTORIA” (2026), now stands prominently outside the New Museum’s latest building in Lower Manhattan. The piece, featuring dynamic arms and pronounced pink breasts, captures the attention of those passing by on the bustling Bowery. On Friday, May 15, a child questioned their mother about the crowd gathered near the artwork, to which she humorously replied that they were intrigued by the sculpture’s “titties.” The sculpture is perched on a washing machine, wearing vivid yellow high heels, and will remain at the museum’s plaza for the next two years.
The sculpture’s unveiling on May 12 marked the beginning of a decade-long initiative to commission public works by female artists. Lucas drew inspiration from her Bunnies series, which started in 1997, adapting the pantyhose and found-object figures into this monumental form. She explained to Hyperallergic that the sculpture embodies “exuberance, optimism, and general good feeling,” qualities she deemed essential to usher in a new era for the New Museum.
Over the following days, museum visitors and pedestrians frequently paused to photograph the sculpture, with men especially inclined to capture its image. Jewelry designer Phyllis Azar expressed curiosity and uncertainty about the piece, while her husband, sculptor Max Gyllenhaal, appreciated its glossy, sensuous appearance. A Canadian tourist also noted the unusual combination of the figure and washing machine, preferring it over traditional statues such as Columbus.
The sculpture, which appears to flail its arms above the traffic from a distance, is a humorous critique of traditional male-dominated monumental statues. Its installation comes eight years after Lucas’s solo exhibition at the New Museum, Au Naturel (2018). Despite initial nerves about the completed work, Lucas felt a sense of relief and noted how the Pop art aspect of the sculpture suits New York’s vibrant street culture.
