(DECATUR, Ga.) — The John Lewis Commemorative Task Force selected Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson to design and create the monument to late, great civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis in Decatur Square. The monument will stand where a Confederate monument once stood, before it was torn down over the summer of 2020.
The task force was given authority by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in 2021.
“We are thrilled to have reached this milestone in the life of the Task Force and we are so pleased that we found a world-renowned artist who captures the soul and spirit of his subjects,” Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said to Decaturish, a local interest magazine.
“This project has been a labor of love for all of us who knew and loved Congressman Lewis. He served our district and the world with such honor and distinction. His statue will stand as a reminder to all who pass that once this great but humble man walked among us, and we are happy we elected him over and over to serve us and the world. He was truly the conscience of the Congress.”
The artist will begin work on the sculpture without delay. While it’s hard to time art, the statue is expected to be on display in 2024.