Artist Daniel Edwards has become famous for his shocking life-size statues of celebrities—from Britney Spears giving birth, to Paris Hilton’s autopsy, to Suri Cruise’s bronzed baby poop. On Tuesday, he unveiled his latest subject, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber nude, which he’ll reportedly unveil in an adult film store in Dallas. Each of the statues is accompanied by a satirical press release, in which the artist ties the subject matter to human causes. Spears giving birth becomes a an anti-abortion monument; Paris Hilton’s autopsy “Educates New York City Teens” about the perils of drunk driving. Naturally, his works have sparked controversy.
The latest statue unveiled by stunt artist Daniel Edwards depicts Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber completely nude—with a Canadian maple leaf and Texas Lone Star covering their private parts. The artist is said to be unveiling Justin and Selena As One in an adult film store in Dallas, aptly named New Fine Arts. “I’ve witnessed a lot of vom-worthy nonsense in my day, but this nude statue is a new level of gross,” wrote one blogger of the statue.
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Edwards’ 2008 Oprah Sarcophagus depicted the Queen of Daytime in a gilded coffin (resembling the Venus of Willendorf); he called it a work that “reaches out to unprepared retirees.” In the press release that accompanied the piece, the gallery’s owner said the piece “is the ideal visual aid for educating boomers about living wills, casket choices, and memorial service arrangements.”
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In 2006, Edwards unveiled Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston, a life-size statue of Britney Spears giving birth to her son on a bearskin rug. The artist said he used the statue of Spears pole-dancing at Madame Tussaud’s as inspiration for his work. Lincoln Capla, owner of Edwards’ gallery, Capla Kesting Fine Art in Brooklyn, said at the time: “A superstar at Britney’s young age having a child is rare in today’s celebrity culture. This dedication honors Britney for the rarity of her choice and bravery of her decision.”
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After Hilton was arrested for a DUI, Edwards created this 2007 work, which depicted a cadaver of the pop tart in a tiara, legs akimbo, with her chihuahua and her cellphone. The artist called it a commentary on the perils of drunk driving. The gallery encouraged visitors to submit essays about drunk driving online.
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In 2009, Edwards created Landmark for Breastfeeding, which was inspired by a 2008 W magazine cover of Angelina Jolie nursing one of her twins. The artist unveiled the work in Norman, Okla., near Brad Pitt’s birthplace—and attempted to have it displayed in a public park there.
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Edwards created “String Of Babies” in 2009, which depicted Octomom Nadya Suleman as an octopus with her children.
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“Bronzed baby shoes are out, and bronzed baby poop is in,” read a press release from Edwards’ gallery in August 2006. “Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes celebrate baby’s ‘first poop.’” It continued: “Suri’s bronzed poop is purportedly cast from the excretion of her first solid meal.”
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This 2006 statue was described as a “nude study of Senator Hillary Clinton used in creating her first portrait as U.S. President,” which was accompanied by an eight-minute satirical documentary) called “Hillary’s Bust.”
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