Atlanta’s newest statue to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stands at the intersection of Northside Drive and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive across from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Installed in early 2021, the bronze statue was sculpted by Jamaican-born Basil Watson.
The mayor's office says that the sculpture is the first of seven installations along MLK Drive that will be dedicated to local civil rights heroes.
Watson attended Kingston College from 1969 to 1976 before enrolling in the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts (1976 – 1980).
He was awarded the Order of Distinction – Commander Class in 2016 by the Jamaican government for artistic work.
Watson has been an Atlanta resident since 2002. He previously completed a work for the city entitled, “Cradle-Future in our Hands” which is on display at the Neighborhood Union Health Center in Vine City, Atlanta.
His most recent projects include the 7-foot statue of Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce which was unveiled in October, 2018 and a statue of Louise Bennett (Miss Lou) which was unveiled in Gordon Town, St Andrew, Jamaica recently.
In 2017, his 7-foot bronze statue of sprint legend Usain St Leo Bolt was unveiled at Jamaica's National Stadium.