Los Angeles-based sculptor Alison Saar has been commissioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the city of Paris to create a public sculpture for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The sculpture will be inaugurated on the Olympic Day of June 23.
The artist—the daughter of artist Betye Saar, a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement—will focus on international diversity, equality and peace.
“My hope is that this artwork, a gift to the people and the city of Paris, will become a gathering place for the public to experience the spirit of friendship and interconnection across cultures and borders,” Saar said in a press release. .
Saar was chosen unanimously by an advisory committee made up of IOC representatives, Paris officials, the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee and several unnamed members of the international art community. The work will be produced in Paris, under the responsibility of the artist. In a press release, Saar said, “By employing French artisans, we not only reduce our costs and our carbon footprint, but also support local talent and suppliers.”
Saar’s work will follow the contribution of the French artist Xavier Veilhan, the public (2021), presented at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo. His work will also create a connection between Paris and Los Angeles, the city that will host the upcoming 2028 Games.
