MIAMI – The big reveal of Dwyane Wade’s big bronze statue outside the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami left some fans wondering how much it resembled the former Miami Heat superstar.
Wade’s statue has been getting roasted on social media, with some adding some creative Photoshop skills.
Some people are saying Wade looks like actor Laurence Fishburne, while others are comparing it to notable bronze fails, like a sculpture of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Local 10 News’ Janine Stanwood took those complaints straight to the source.
Omri Amrany and Oscar Leon, the Chicago-based sculptors who were commissioned to create the Wade statue, are not shying away from critics.
“We welcome that,” Amrany said of the backlash. “Criticism is always good in the arts.”
The two have an impressive body of work worldwide.
“Look at it in person,” said Leon. “There’s a much greater appreciation when you are standing in front of something. You see the details.”
They say Wade was a big part of the process, even modeling in person. They also used a computerized grid system to analyze his face and body.
“When we got the approval in the clay stage, everybody said, ‘That’s it,’” exclaimed Amrany.
“He did leave happy,” added Leon.
Artistic opinions aside, everyone seems happy that D-Wade is getting his due.
“This is an American story of a kid who came from Chicago,” said Amrany. “This is a message of what success means, (whether) you like it or not.”