Detroit has unveiled a striking new landmark: a towering RoboCop statue that stands over 11 feet tall and weighs 3,500 pounds. This remarkable piece of art is cast bronze. You’ll see it located in Eastern Market, a historic, colorful neighborhood well-known for its bustling, waterfront, public produce market and plethora of shopping and entertainment venues. Detroit sculptor Giorgio Gikas constructed the statue in 2017. It remained a closely guarded secret for the next few years.
The RoboCop statue’s journey began around 2010 when the idea was inspired by Philadelphia’s famous Rocky Balboa statue. The idea went viral across social media. This excitement was enough to power this Stanford graduate’s Kickstarter campaign in 2012, raising more than $67,000 from over 2,700 backers across the globe. The outpouring of support proved that there was a deep well of enthusiasm for the project. It absolutely floored fans of the original 1987 film that took place in a dystopian future Detroit.
To this day, Detroit’s former mayor, Dave Bing, was one of the first to be tagged in conversations about the statue on Twitter. What began as a small concept grew into an exciting project. Over time it became an even more powerful symbol of hope for the city, representing both resilience and community spirit.
It’s hard to underestimate the incredible progress Detroit has made. Flaring that dash of nostalgia goes a long way to making that trip palpable,” said project proponent Jim Toscano.
The RoboCop statue has certainly stolen the show since it was installed. Visitors scramble all over it, scrambling to take selfies with the 25-foot-tall masterpiece of wood and metal. James Campbell, one of the other backers of the statue, said this about its effect on culture. He’s America’s favorite cyborg crime fighter! As in the film, he fights to save the city of tomorrow, present day, futuristic Detroit from corporate greed and corruption.
The statue now sits safely behind the sidewalk fence in Eastern Market. This central location keeps it accessible to residents and visitors, who are all encouraged to check it out. This new accessibility has given rise to a trend dubbed “selfie mania.” To our surprise, people are lining up to take photos with this magical mouse!
“It’s too unusual, too unique, too cool not to do,” said Toscano in reference to the statue’s design and presence.