Full Breakdown
Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" Acquired by MOCA
2/24/2026, 8:52:00 PM
Overview of the Acquisition
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has acquired Kara Walker's sculpture "Unmanned Drone," a significant addition to its collection as part of the "Monuments" exhibition. This exhibition features 158 works by 106 artists, including notable contributions from Jacqueline Humphries, Mike Kelley, and Julie Mehretu. Walker's sculpture, created from a decommissioned statue of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, stands 13 feet tall and serves as a powerful commentary on historical narratives and racial issues.
Background of the Sculpture
The original Stonewall Jackson statue was located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was removed following its association with the 2017 Unite the Right rally, which involved white supremacist groups. The city of Charlottesville sought proposals for the statue's future, leading to the Brick, a gallery, acquiring the statue on January 6, 2022. Hamza Walker, the Brick's director, noted that their proposal emphasized not reinstalling the statue for veneration, which aligned with the city's intentions.
Artistic Transformation
Kara Walker's approach to the statue involved a radical transformation. Using a plasma cutter, she disassembled the statue and reassembled it, omitting Jackson's face and shifting focus to his horse, Little Sorrel. This artistic choice was intended to challenge the viewer's identification with Jackson, emphasizing the horse instead. Hamza Walker explained that the work aims to reduce the figure to its essential components of horse and rider, stripping away the glorification of the historical figure.
Critical Reception
The sculpture has received notable acclaim, with former art critic Christopher Knight describing it as "devastating" and "brilliant." He also drew parallels between Walker's work and the folkloric figure of the "headless horseman," suggesting it serves as a metaphor for the ongoing presence of white supremacy in contemporary society. Walker's piece stands out as the only transformed statue among nearly a dozen decommissioned Confederate statues featured in the exhibition, while others were displayed in their original forms.
Official Statements
Clara Kim, MOCA's chief curator, remarked on the museum's collection expansion, stating, "The expansion of MOCA’s collection this year reflects a sustained and deeply collaborative effort to think critically about what it means to build a museum collection in the twenty-first century." This acquisition aligns with MOCA's commitment to addressing complex historical narratives through contemporary art.
Criticism & Opposition
While the acquisition and transformation of the statue have been praised, there may be dissenting views regarding the implications of altering historical monuments. Critics might argue that such transformations could obscure the original context and significance of these figures in American history.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They were getting rid of the Lee and the Stonewall Jackson statues, and they said, ‘We don’t want them put back up for further veneration,’” — Hamza Walker, Director of the Brick
- “She didn’t want you to be able to identify with him. She wanted the emphasis on Little Sorrel rather than the myth of the man,” — Hamza Walker, Director of the Brick
- “The fiend has no head,” — Christopher Knight, Former Art Critic
This acquisition of "Unmanned Drone" by MOCA not only enriches the museum's collection but also invites ongoing dialogue about the representation of historical figures in contemporary art.
