Cut and rolled from plate steel, this dramatic sculpture is a profile of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with his arm outstretched, welcoming visitors to the King National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia. It was created by Spanish sculptor Xavier Medina-Campeny and was commissioned by Atlanta’s Cultural Legacy Initiative in 1996, which brought major permanent public works of art to Atlanta from Barcelona – the 1992 Summer Olympic City – as an Olympic cultural exchange. The sculpture is integrated with the bicycle and pedestrian path project linking downtown Atlanta to Freedom Parkway, close to MLK’s birthplace and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park.
The sculptor, Xavier Medina-Campeny, was born in Barcelona in 1943, the descendant of a family of sculptors. His prolific career has spanned almost four decades with work exhibited around the globe in one man shows, public installations, and group shows. Numerous pieces are in the collections of museums throughout Europe and the US.
This sculpture is owned and maintained by Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Freedom Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the improvement and preservation of the park for the benefit of a diverse public. The vision is for Freedom Park to be Atlanta’s most innovative green space, celebrated for its inspiring origin and beauty.