Universal Man, Bronze sculpture at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, Canada

Universal Man is a 6.5-metre bronze sculpture by Gerald Gladstone at the Dufferin entrance of Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Its thick lower mass twists upward and splits into two heavy, wing-like arms with rounded, irregular edges. The surface has a rough greenish-blue patina, and the work stands on a paved surface with no visible inscription.

Gerald Gladstone created this bronze work in 1972 under commission from CN Rail, and it was originally installed at the CN Tower. The sculpture was later relocated to its current position at the shopping centre.

Gerald Gladstone said the work was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, and the oversized arms and legs mark out the range of motion a human body can reach. The figure was commissioned by CN Rail in 1972 and unveiled in 1976 at the foot of the CN Tower, where it was meant to stress the human side of the project.

The sculpture sits prominently at the Dufferin side of Yorkdale Shopping Centre, making it easy to locate and serving as a natural meeting spot. Its position near the entrance means you can visit without needing to navigate the shopping centre itself.

When the sculpture was moved in 1987 for the Rogers Centre construction, its right hand broke off, and CN placed it face down on vacant railway land by the Gardiner Expressway and Spadina Avenue. Gladstone was infuriated by the damage and the site. North York restored the hand and re-unveiled the work in 1994.