Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Have You Touched This Attention-Grabbing Statue?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 21, 2010
Modified Oct 21, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 21, 2010
Modified Oct 21, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
According to the NY Times, Botero's sculpture of Adam in the lobby of the mall at the Time Warner Center (next to Williams-Sonoma, and not far from the Eve sculpture) is a deep, dark shade of brown. Adam's penis, however, is worn golden, due to all the... handling.
Passerby have been spotted stopping, touching, rubbing and taking photos with the bronzed genitalia—allegedly for luck, for laughs, and of course for new Facebook profile photos. The center's general manager, David Froelke, says, “We have an art dealer that comes in and redoes the patina from time to time, but it doesn’t last very long.”
Froelke added, “In looking at my shoppers coming into the Time Warner Center, there’s so much hustle and bustle that if I can do something to slow the experience down and make it more pleasurable, I’m doing something to make their day a little bit better.” Whatever helps, New York.
Tagged
Adam
Botero
statue
time warner center
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
'You Can See Everything' … as long as you go to Staten Island
Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary has been selling out across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tickets to see the film, however, are very much available in other boroughs.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 27, 2026 at 11:18 a.m. ET
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .