The Next Statue of Liberty

When French sculpting group Atelier Missor announced on March 17th that they were building a massive titanium statue to serve as a new “Statue of Liberty,” it was hard to take them seriously. But the seemingly playful X post, showcasing a rendering of their vision, quickly went viral. Within days, it garnered nearly five million views and got a thumbs up from Elon Musk who commented, “looks cool.”

In the weeks since the viral post, one thing has become clear: Atelier Missor wasn’t joking — they’re dead serious about creating what they call the “greatest artistic achievement in human history.” 

And a post on April 18th, showing the group posed around an enormous sculpted head, proves it. The audacious undertaking has officially begun. The sculptors are anything if not bold.

Though the group’s mission seems like fantasy when examined practically — they have no institutional funding and limited experience with large structures — the excitement they’ve kindled signals something real. People are itching to be a part of something truly momentous, something optimistic.  

Atelier Missor’s plan, then, feels more like a provocation than a proposal — one that asks: what if we dared to dream of the future again? 

Going Forth Boldly

If Atelier Missor’s idea seems outlandish, rest assured they’re in familiar territory. The eccentric workshop based in Nice, France, is no stranger to controversy.

Back in January, the group became the center of a controversy around their monumental bronze statue of Joan of Arc erected in their hometown. Just three months after unveiling, judges ruled that the city had failed to meet public procurement obligations. Specifically, competing offers for producing the artwork were never considered — but seriously, who else is doing work of this kind today?

The city’s conservative mayor was accused of showing favoritism for the group who specializes in portraying French national heroes, and the nearly $200,000 statue was ordered removed.

Luckily, a town halfway across Europe, Mátészalka, Hungary, has offered to take the statue. The Hungarian officials claimed an intention to preserve symbols of Western history, stating they supported “any initiative aimed at saving our Western culture based on Christianity.”

Despite the politically-charged pushback against their art, Atelier Missor has garnered considerable support from the online community. Boasting roughly 60,000 followers on YouTube, 50,000 on Instagram, and well over 20,000 on X, the sculptors’ grand vision of a colossal titanium statue remains unshaken. Perhaps they take inspiration from Joan of Arc who persisted despite unrelenting hostility. 

If Atelier Missor is anything, it's resolute in their beliefs. During an interview, they proudly proclaimed “The West was a force for good in Human History,” and asserted that we occupy a pivotal moment in time:  

“From the Eleusinian mysteries, to the Roman Republic, step by step, sometimes with millennia between them, everything was done to bring us to this day. Now we are at the true crossroads of civilization…”

Atelier Missor’ mission, then, is one of urgency. They aim to bring back beauty to the world and revitalize the “Flame of the West” — and their new project just might do that… 

An Impossible Vision?

“All the statues we built to this day were just training,” the group admitted. Though their catalogue of heroic busts and sculptures is impressive, it pales in comparison with their vision of a new Statue of Liberty. 

So what exactly is their vision? 

Though details of the project are scarce, the sculptors have revealed glimpses of it through their social media accounts. 

In their original March 17th post, they described the work simply as “A New Statue of Liberty, much bigger, made out of titanium to withstand millions of years.” But since then, more details have emerged. The work will be a tower made from quartzite, a rock known for its beauty and longevity, and will be shaped in an ascending spiral. Along the spiral will be carved the history of mankind.

In an X post from April 20th Atelier Missor wrote: 

“A colossal pyramidal tower, rising in a spiral ascent, designed for people to walk upon — its wall sculpted with the entirety of human history, winding upward like a Spiral of the Ages. As visitors ascend this monumental path, the Great Wall will unfold before their eyes — a vast fresco narrating the saga of Human Civilization.”

At the top of the spiral will rest the gleaming titanium statue of Prometheus bearing a torch — but why choose Prometheus as the central figure?  

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan who defied the Olympian gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to mankind, birthing technology, knowledge, and ultimately civilization. He was then punished for his insubordination — bound to a rock as an eagle ate his liver. 

Prometheus is the figure who dared to give humanity agency and, according to Atelier Missor, represents an optimism toward mankind:

“Prometheus is the friend of man. He gave us the fire, and was punished for it. He wanted us to rise above the animals. He wanted us to dominate, because he trusted us to make something good in the universe. He gave us the will to face our destiny.”

Prometheus is also a traditional symbol of the Enlightenment, which the group calls “the most important accomplishment of mankind.” 

A Dream of Civilization

Whatever their motivations, their ambition is laudable. The project is on a scale not seen in the Western world for decades. It seems like an impossible vision, but it’s backed by a passionate desire to honor Western Civilization:

“[The West] is to be celebrated, and this great Statue of Prometheus will do just that!”

Though funding has not yet materialized, the group hopes that the publicity they’ve received will inspire potential donors like Elon Musk to contribute to the project. For such a massive undertaking, considerable funding will certainly be needed.

Though the new Statue of Liberty Atelier Missor intends on building remains a work-in-progress, it already serves as inspiration for others to take up the mantle of colossal statue building. On their website, the group inquires:

“What if we built monumental statues for cities? What if we took up this dream of civilization, which had been abandoned?”

Which only leaves us with one more question: what are we waiting for?