It was only last month that we covered the agreement between the City and the Frank Rizzo Monument Committee, memorializing an agreement that the large statue of the former mayor would not return to the front porch of the Municipal Service Building across from City Hall. While the years-long process to permanently remove the statue isn’t quite finished, the City is already moving to reclaim this prominent spot. As part of the larger renovations of Thomas Paine Plaza, a new statue of African American Philadelphian Sadie T. M. Alexander will soon be placed at this location. Embarrassingly, this statue will be one of the first public art installations honoring African American women in the City’s collection. We didn’t major in Art History, but this really underscores the need to more fully celebrate the diverse group of Philadelphians who’ve fought for liberty and justice in our city.

Creative Philadelphia announced a competition for the design of this statue back in 2024. Fifty-two applications were whittled down to 5 finalists, with a submission from Vinnie Bagwell eventually chosen by the selection committee. Entitled Philadelphia’s First Lady of the Law, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, the proposal did particularly well during the community consultation process, scoring the highest across all categories in the public survey. But similarly to how the Art Commission was required to sign off on deaccessioning the statue of Mayor Rizzo, this new piece of public art slated for the City owned plaza needs the Commission’s approval before the work can be installed. And indeed, the Commission approved the statue.

Raising $700K for this statue might be difficult for a non-profit, even if the City was willing to donate a site. Fortunately, cash won’t be an issue as this work is being funded as part of the plaza renovation, satisfying the project’s Percent for Art requirement. Hundreds of pieces of public art have been produced since Philadelphia became the first city to require some projects set aside some funding for related art work. We’re hoping this larger than life statue will soon become a Center City landmark, just like the Octavius V. Catto Memorial installed on the other side of City Hall back in 2017.

Confidently wearing an academic robe, the statue prominently highlights Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander’s scholastic achievements. After she became the first African American woman to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania, she would go on to have an illustrious legal career and play an active role in the fight for civil rights in Philadelphia and nationally. In addition to the clutched copy of the Constitution, the statue also includes a reference to her role as the first national president of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. As long as the City performs some basic maintenance, over the years the black statue will turn a bit blue as it ages, apparently creating some subtle highlights.

It will still take another thirteen months for the statue to be fabricated and delivered to the site. Meanwhile, the artist will participate in public programming, with a special emphasis on civic engagement and providing educational opportunities.  Any number of problems could delay a complicated rehab project like overhauling the surrounding outdoor space. But the current schedule would seem to allow an unveiling in the Spring of 2027, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Sadie T.M. Alexander’s admission to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1927. We’ll be counting the days til we see this statue welcome City workers and visitors to a renovated Thomas Paine Plaza. After Penn’s Carey Law School recently decided to pause their Dr. Sadie T. M. Alexander scholarship program, a prominent landmark celebrating this heroic Philadelphian seems more timely than ever.