The article explores the controversy surrounding the public sculptures of Croatian artist Ivan Meštrović in Chicago, particularly in light of the sociopolitical shifts following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. In response to these movements, the City of Chicago launched the Chicago Monuments Project (CMP), aiming to reassess its public monuments and address overlooked or marginalized historical narratives. Meštrović’s works, although artistically celebrated, became part of this broader conversation about representation, memory, and public space.
The authors investigate the tension between preserving cultural heritage and responding to evolving social values, questioning whether the reassessment of such artworks constitutes a form of “cancel culture” or a necessary corrective to historical imbalance. The study argues for a balanced approach that maintains artistic significance while also acknowledging contemporary sensibilities. Ultimately, the article advocates for open dialogue as a key tool in the reevaluation of contested heritage in public spaces.
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