Fritz Koenig, sculptor whose art withstood 9-11 attack, dies
BERLIN — Fritz Koenig, a German sculptor whose work “The Sphere” became a symbol of resilience after the 9-11 attacks in New York, has died. He was 92.
Koenig, a well-known artist thanks to his distinctive large statues and sculptures, created the ball-shaped bronze over a four-year period starting in 1967.
Originally called “Grosse Kugelkaryatide N.Y.,” the 25-foot- (7.7 metre) -high sculpture stood at the foot of the World Trade Center from 1971 until Sept. 11, 2001, when al-Qaida hijackers flew airliners into the twin towers.
It was recovered from the rubble — heavily dented but structurally intact — and was moved to Battery Park, where it now stands alongside an eternal flame dedicated to the people who died. A plaque notes that the sculpture was conceived as a symbol of world peace.