RoboCop statue
Bronze statue of RoboCop in Detroit, funded by crowdfunding.
A bronze RoboCop statue stands in Detroit's Eastern Market, honoring the fictional cyborg police officer from the 1987 film. The project began after a 2011 Twitter exchange between Mayor Dave Bing and a pseudonymous user went viral, leading to a Kickstarter campaign that raised $67,436. Completion was delayed by site issues, legal hurdles with MGM, and artist Giorgio Gikas's cancer battle. The statue was finished in 2017 and finally installed in 2025.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Rob Bottin
- Mark Dubeau
- Giorgio Gikas
- Jay Jurma
- Nadine Chronopolous
- Venus Bronze Works
- Completion date
- 2025
- Medium
- Bronze
- Subject
- RoboCop
- Height imperial
- 11
- Weight
- 2.5 short tons (5,000 lb / 2.27 t)
- City
- Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Facts from the source article.
Origin
In early 2011, Detroit mayor Dave Bing and his communications team solicited suggestions on Twitter for improvements to the city. On February 7, 2011, user @MT responded, 'Philadelphia has a statue of Rocky & Robocop would kick Rocky's butt. He's a GREAT ambassador for Detroit.' Bing replied, 'There are not any plans to erect a statue to Robocop. Thank you for the suggestion.' The exchange, involving a user identified as a 'random dude in Massachusetts,' went viral within a day. RoboCop appeared on Reddit's front page, a Facebook group was started, and a Kickstarter campaign launched. With a goal of $50,000, the campaign raised $67,436 from 2,718 people in six days, including a $25,000 donation from Pete Hottelet of Omni Consumer Products. Actor Peter Weller, who portrayed RoboCop, recorded a video for Funny or Die jokingly calling out Mayor Bing, and also appeared in a video for RoboCharity, established by the Detroit foodbank Forgotten Harvest. The statue idea was mildly controversial; critics cited Detroit's portrayal in the films as a 'lawless hellscape' and saw the statue as a waste of money. Later, the murder of George Floyd and ensuing protests called into question the symbolism of a statue dedicated to a police officer.
Design and construction
After funding was secured, organizers Jerry Paffendorf, Brandon Walley, Mary Carter, Pete Hottelet, John Leonard, and Alex Languirand began determining materials, selecting a foundry, discussing licensing rights, and choosing a location. The original Kickstarter post envisioned a seven-foot-tall iron statue based on a 3D scan of a RoboCop action figure. Molds were created in partnership with Fred Barton Productions, with all work approved by MGM. The life-size armor was 3D scanned and digitally scaled to a 10-foot height. Foam forms were produced for final casting. Detroit-based Venus Bronze Works, owned by sculpture conservator Giorgio Gikas, was selected to create the statue. Gikas had restored numerous Detroit monuments. Foam forms arrived in September 2013; a furnace was purchased to melt bronze. The last major molds were poured and completed in October 2016. In summer 2020, the statue was found leaning back; a slice of the torso was shaved off and a plate welded in to correct the tilt. The 11 ft tall, 2.5 short ton bronze statue is welded to a half-ton stainless steel base. Legs and pelvis tie to metal shafts; the base connects to lead pipes filled with epoxy to prevent movement when the ground freezes. Kneecaps weigh about 25 lb each. A dark gray patina was used. The statue was welded by Nick Phlegar and Mike Birtles.
Site selection and delays
Multiple setbacks delayed completion and site location. Venus Bronze Works owner Gikas was diagnosed with colon cancer and was sick for one and a half years before recovering. A planned unveiling on June 3, 2014, declared 'RoboCop Day' in Detroit, was cancelled, though an actor dressed as RoboCop threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game. In March 2017, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill included RoboCop in a rendering for the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, but the firm said it was a joke. The statue was predicted to be finished in 2018 and later March 2020. Multiple locations were suggested: Roosevelt Park, Belle Isle, Wayne State University's TechTown campus, and the Michigan Science Center (announced May 2018). The science center bowed out in 2021, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. An offer from the mayor of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, was rejected. Legal issues with MGM held up public display; as of November 2022, a definitive legal agreement had not been reached. The statue was stored at an undisclosed location in Eastern Market. Constructing a foundation and moving it were estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars. The statue debuted on December 3, 2025, standing outside 3434 Russell St., just south of Mack Ave in Detroit's Eastern Market.
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