Jesus the Homeless, Bronze sculpture at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, United States
Jesus the Homeless is a bronze sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, showing a figure wrapped in a blanket on a bench. The figure is cast in life-size proportions, and only the feet bearing nail wounds give hints about the identity as Christ.
The artist created the first version of this work in 2013 for Regis College in Toronto. Pope Francis acknowledged the sculpture the same year, and it has since been installed at numerous locations worldwide.
The figure shows Christ in the form of a homeless person resting on a park bench, with only the feet bearing wounds visible. This portrayal invites viewers to consider the dignity and plight of people without permanent shelter.
The sculpture often stands outdoors and can be viewed anytime, as it is placed on public or church grounds. During rain or snow, water collects in the folds of the blanket, giving the figure an even more realistic appearance.
Passersby have repeatedly placed emergency calls because they mistook the bronze figure for a real person in distress, especially during cold weather. The deceptively real effect of the sculpture shows how much Schmalz wanted to blur the boundaries between art and reality.
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