Tracie Thoms Visits ‘Grounded In The Stars’ in Times Square
Actress marvels at Thomas J Price’s public art in NYC, drawn to its beauty amid controversy
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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Image: Instagram
A Statue In The Spotlight
When renowned actress Tracie Thoms touched down in New York City this week, she made a beeline for one of the city’s newest public art installations. #GroundedInTheStars by British sculptor Thomas J Price stands tall in Times Square, a 27-foot-tall gilded representation of an everyday Black woman seated with quiet confidence. Since its unveiling last summer, the work has sparked both celebration and critique—and Thoms was compelled to see it for herself.
Tracie’s Times Square Pilgrimage
“Alas, I couldn’t leave NYC without visiting THIS lady! #GroundedInTheStars by @thomasjprice__ in Times Square is a wonder to behold,” Thoms wrote on Instagram, where she shared a portrait of herself standing beside the gleaming statue. She continued, “And she’s been stirring up quite the controversy since she arrived… She beautiful. And to see all the men and women who look at her and see themselves or their loved ones in her was an incredible moment. Don’t miss her before she’s gone next month!! 📷by @vududaddy.”
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Tracie Thoms, best known for her breakout role as Joanne in the 2005 film adaptation of RENT and her steady television work on shows like Cold Case and iZombie, is no stranger to exploring complex characters. Born July 19, 1975, in Baltimore, she honed her craft at Ithaca College before earning a coveted spot in the Drama Division at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In a career spanning two decades, Thoms has drawn praise for portraying strong, multifaceted women on screen and stage alike.
Stirring Public Debate
Since #GroundedInTheStars debuted in July 2022 at the TKTS booth plaza, viewers have praised the piece for its absence of overt symbolism. There’s no plaque explaining who the model is, no inscription dictating how to feel. Supporters say that ambiguity invites viewers to project their own experiences, while critics dismiss it as generic or inconsequential advertising for the art world.
“People see themselves or their loved ones in her,” Thoms observed. That open-ended approach has led local art bloggers to debate whether Price’s figure—a casually dressed woman, legs crossed, gaze fixed on the distance—offers genuine representation or a missed opportunity for deeper context. New York’s Public Art Fund, which commissioned the work, argues that the sculpture democratizes heroism by presenting an anonymous everywoman.
Why It Resonates
For Thoms, the sculpture’s simplicity is its greatest strength. “She’s beautiful,” she wrote, speaking not just of the statue’s polished surface but of its ability to spark conversation about identity, visibility, and the public sphere. Thomas J Price has explained in past interviews that he aims to subvert monumental tropes by inviting everyday passersby to see themselves as worthy of commemoration.
Audiences stopping to photograph the statue have ranged from tourists in Times Square to local office workers on their lunch breaks. Many pause and reflect, offering spontaneous testimonials—echoing Thoms’s excitement that the piece moves people in deeply personal ways.
After posing for a few snapshots, Thoms drifted back into the Midtown bustle. But the visit underscores how art in public spaces can transcend gallery walls, drawing celebrities and commuters into a shared dialogue.
Tracie Thoms’s stop at #GroundedInTheStars demonstrates how even established performers seek out new sources of inspiration in the city that never sleeps. Whether you view the statue as a blank slate or a landmark of empowerment, its ability to provoke both admiration and argument speaks to the power of public art to ground us—even as it aims for the stars.
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