Overview
The steely gaze and warrior-like stance of Kristen Visbal's legendary bronze statue Fearless Girl have made their home in our own Federation Square.
Erected in time for International Women's Day on Friday, March 8, the work is a limited-edition reproduction of the famous sculpture, which was first installed facing off against Arturo Di Modica's Charging Bull in New York's Wall Street.
The statue depicts a small girl, with hands on hips and chin in the air, looking boldly into the distance. First commissioned by investment company State Street Global Advisors and appearing on International Women's Day in 2017, she's since become a symbol for female leadership and gender diversity in the workplace — although, not without some criticism.
Many, including Di Modica himself, called the statue as a 'publicity stunt' created by a company that itself only had a small number of female executives. The statue was, late last year, relocated to a spot across from the New York Stock Exchange.
One of just four in the world, our Fearless Girl — commissioned by law firm Maurice Blackburn and superannuation funds Hesta and CBUS — will make her home in Fed Square for the next three years, in an effort to inspire conversations about gender rights and equality. Aside from New York, the only cities to have played host to one of the statues are Oslo and Cape Town.
Find 'Fearless Girl' at Federation Square until March 2022.