After fours years in the making, a sculpture commemorating the life and legacy of Milwaukee jurist, politician and civil rights crusader Vel R. Phillips will be unveiled on the Wisconsin State Capitol grounds in June.
Created by the late artist Radcliffe Bailey, the sculpture will be the first of a Black leader or any person of color to be featured at the Capitol. “Vel Phillips was a true treasure and Wisconsin icon, inspiring generations and defining the trajectory of our state,” Gov. Tony Evers said. “It is so important to me and to the countless Wisconsinites for whom she paved the way that she receives permanent recognition at the Wisconsin State Capitol.”
The Capitol should reflect the Wisconsinites who are served by actions carried out at the Capitol, he added.
“No one is more deserving than Vel Phillips,” Evers said. “Future generations of kids will be able to look up at Vel and see a leader who looks like they do – an everlasting example of her historic legacy.”
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The initiative aims to address the lack of representation of the Black community’s contributions to Wisconsin and beyond and is coming to fruition in the year of Phillips’ 100th birthday celebration.
“This sculpture is more than a monument to my mother’s legacy. It is a beacon of hope and a call to action,” attorney Mike Phillips said. “It serves as a potent reminder that we all can shatter barriers and champion the values she lived by.”
A trailblazing figure, Phillips left an indelible mark on Milwaukee through her lifelong work. She was the first Black person and first woman elected to the city’s Common Council, the first female judge in Milwaukee County and the state’s first Black judge. She was also the first woman to hold the office of Secretary of State in Wisconsin and the first Black person to win a statewide election.
Until her death in April 2018, Phillips remained an active leader in pushing for social justice, education and equal opportunities for minority populations in Milwaukee.
A public space currently under construction in Downtown Milwaukee will also honor Phillips. The Vel R. Phillips Plaza is situated south of Wisconsin Avenue between North 5th Street and North Vel R. Phillips Avenue.
“Vel Phillips was a formidable leader and trailblazer for African Americans and women, and it’s because of her perseverance that generations of women have been able to be a part of public service in Wisconsin,” said State Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), who is chairwoman of the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board. “The effort to establish this sculpture in her honor has been an effort years in the making, and I am thrilled to have finally reached this exciting milestone.”
Following bipartisan approval of the statue in November 2021, the Vel Phillips Legacy Initiative, started by Michael Johnson, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, with endorsement from Mike Phillips, began fundraising efforts.
More than $500,000 has been raised to commission and donate the sculpture to the state.
“We are proud to see this day come to fruition. Vel Phillips’ legacy is a testament to the power of resilience and dedication,” Johnson said. “Through this sculpture, future generations will learn about and be inspired by her indomitable spirit and contributions to our society. We should thank our community, especially the youth, for bringing the issue of lack of representation to our attention.”
Bailey, a Georgia-based artist who designed the sculpture, which is cast in bronze, died in November at age 55 in Atlanta after a battle with brain cancer. His art focused on the Black experience and Black Americans.
The sculpture will depict Phillips in a seated position, will stand as a lasting tribute to Phillips, who broke countless barriers and devoted her life to making a difference in the lives of others.
“This initiative reflects a communitywide effort to pay tribute to Vel Phillips’ unparalleled contributions to justice, equality and progress,” said Dave Endres, chairman of the Vel Phillips Legacy Initiative Task Force.
Details of the unveiling celebration are expected to be announced soon.
