Panel to announce sculptor for new Barbara Johns statue representing Virginia at US Capitol

Two men walk in statuary hall at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 9, 2020. – The $2.2 trillion CARES Act spending package Congress approved…

Two men walk in statuary hall at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 9, 2020. – The $2.2 trillion CARES Act spending package Congress approved in March was credited with preventing a much more severe economic downturn, but economists say more will be needed. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

by: Tannock Blair

Posted: Dec 29, 2022 / 04:23 PM EST

Updated: Dec 29, 2022 / 04:23 PM EST

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) will soon reveal the chosen sculptor for a new statue in the United States Capitol building in Washington D.C.

The Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol will hold its ninth public meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The meeting will be held in the Reynolds Leadership Center on the second floor of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond.

According to a release from DHR, the meeting will announce the chosen sculptor for a Barbara Rose Johns statue that will be displayed — as one of two contributions from Virginia — in the Statuary Hall Collection.

This new statue will replace the statue of Robert E. Lee which was removed from the U.S. Capitol in December 2020.

Following the sculptor’s announcement, the Commission and artist will spend the remainder of the meeting discussing the design details of the statue — such as pose, expression, attire and pedestal.

The meeting will be available virtually and details for how to participate in the public comment can be found here.