French sculptural workshop Atelier Missor has unveiled an ambitious project to create a colossal statue for the United States' 250th independence anniversary celebration. The Guardian of Liberty, designed to stand approximately 100 meters tall, represents a modern tribute following in the footsteps of the Statue of Liberty gifted by France to America in 1886.
On October 23, the Meaux-based atelier shared images of their latest creation on social media platform X, showcasing a six-meter wooden and plaster model of Atlas carrying the globe on his shoulders. The post has already garnered more than seven million views, demonstrating widespread international interest in the project.
"We wanted to follow in the footsteps of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and Gustave Eiffel," explains Missor, now based in Meaux. "People have forgotten the friendship between France and the United States. France sacrificed greatly during the War of Independence so that the United States could be born. Since we are attached to the long term, it was natural to reiterate this gesture of friendship."
The monumental work is intended as a gift to the United States for the 250th anniversary of American independence, scheduled for July 2026. The statue positions itself as the spiritual heir to the Statue of Liberty, drawing inspiration from philosopher Viktor Frankl's vision of complementing Lady Liberty with a statue of responsibility.
"Atlas embodies precisely this duty: he carries on his back the weight of the world and the responsibility of humanity," the artists explain. The classical figure of Atlas, condemned in Greek mythology to hold up the heavens, serves as a powerful metaphor for America's role in global leadership and responsibility.
The project represents a continuation of the historic Franco-American artistic collaboration that produced one of the world's most recognizable monuments. Just as Bartholdi and Eiffel created an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, Atelier Missor aims to contribute a contemporary message about responsibility and global stewardship to the American landscape.
The Guardian of Liberty project demonstrates the enduring cultural ties between France and the United States, reviving a tradition of monumental gifts that celebrate shared democratic values. As the 250th anniversary of American independence approaches, this ambitious sculptural undertaking promises to create another lasting symbol of transatlantic friendship and shared responsibility for the world's future.
