The art of living statues has been around for hundreds of years, and over the last few decades it has become a staple on the streets of New York City. Living statues can be found all over the world in many forms, such as mimes, street performers, and even some buskers.
In New York City you can find living statues all over; most of them perform in Times Square, Central Park, and along the High Line park. It is safe to say that they are quite a popular attraction in the city. To help you get to know these unique performers we have created a list of those who we think are some of the best in New York City.
Here are our top picks for NYC’s most amazing living statue performers:
Living Statue Performers are an entertaining addition to any event or function. Our performers are a top choice for parties and corporate events in New York City and the tri-state area. Living Statue Performers have become a popular part of many events and parties, including weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, night clubs, theme parks, and festivals.
Our performers have also been very popular with advertising agencies for TV commercials, print ads and for promotions. They are also a great way to add some excitement to your business during grand openings or other special events. From fashion shows to baby showers our performers are always the life of the party! We can even customize costumes by adding logos or other elements to make them uniquely yours!
You’ve seen them: the street performers who paint themselves silver and stand perfectly still for hours at a time, the ones that you think are statues until they move. The living statue performers of New York City aren’t just an oddity. They are world-class artists who have put years of hard work into their craft.
The first living statues in New York were a mix of performance artists, hippies, and commedia dell’arte troupes in the early 1970s. Dressed as Renaissance sculptors, these performers would sit on stools or boxes with a pad and pencil, pretending to sculpt but actually observing their audience. You can see traces of this early style in today’s performer’s poses and craft.
There are two main schools of living statue performance today: those who choose realistic costumes, like Greek mythological figures or mimes, and those who wear outlandish costumes with large props or accessories like wings or hats. Often performers will mimic the effects of aging on marble by covering themselves in chalk dust or by spray-painting themselves gray with white highlights. Some even glue sand to their bodies!
Most living statue performers earn money by working for tips in public places like Times Square. Others may perform at weddings, trade shows, promotional events,
Living Statue Performers
Living statues have been around for a long time. They were first used as a form of entertainment in the late 1600s in Italy. By the first quarter of the eighteenth century they had spread to France and England, where they became very fashionable. Today, these performers can be seen at street fairs, carnivals, parades and other outdoor events.
A living statue is a person who stands completely still in costume and makeup while portraying a statue or mannequin.[1] The costume usually consists of body paint, white clothing and props that enhance the illusion. The makeup is usually white greasepaint with blue eyeshadow to enhance the “stoned” look of the face. Some statues use real stone or wood props (such as marble columns) to enhance their appearance. Many have real hair instead of wigs so it will not move accidentally when touched by a spectator.
The performer remains completely motionless for an hour or more at a time, relying on his/her ability to remain motionless to entertain the audience.[2] As an act of street theater, living statues are informative and entertaining; they interact through gestures with members of the public. This activity is done by people who have been trained to stand motionless
Living Statue Performers
Whether you call them living sculptures, statues vivants, or body painted artists, these costumed performers create an experience that will captivate your audience.
Living statues are typically hired to greet guests as they arrive at your event. They can perform solos or in groups and often interact with the crowd. They can also entertain during dinner or even perform a dance routine. The possibilities are endless!
Imagine having your guests greeted by a marble statue of David or Michelangelo’s Pieta. Or how about a group of beautiful ballerinas in white tutus? Or perhaps a couple of Greek Gods and Goddesses? All this is possible with our talented performers.
Statues can be custom designed to fit any theme and are usually painted to match the decor of the venue. Whether you’re planning an elegant affair or throwing a costume party, we have just the right costumes to fit your event.
All over the world, people have been inspired by the beauty and artistry of classical statuary. In New York City, a few performers have taken this to the next level by becoming “living statues” who recreate famous sculptures or work with them as their artistic muse.
Living statues are street performers who stand entirely still for hours at a time in order to resemble a statue. They are usually dressed all in white, although some artists use color or metallic paint to create different effects.
The living statue movement began in France around 1900 as a form of mime. Statues were placed in public parks and squares, where they would remain motionless until someone put money in the box at their feet. At that point, they would come alive, break into dance or do something else to delight the audience.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a living statue performer? All of us who have ever played the game ‘statue’ as children know that standing perfectly still can be quite difficult. But when we do it, there are no consequences if our pose is not perfect. It is a game, after all.
Professional living statues, however, cannot afford to let their poses slip for even a second. A split second of a cracked smile or a flinch could mean the difference between making money and not making money, or even the difference between life and death.
A living statue performer’s income is based on tips from passers-by; therefore, it is imperative that they look exactly like statues at all times. The ‘statues’ must stand perfectly still in any number of poses, withstand harsh weather conditions such as extreme heat and cold, and remain in character during any event (ie: being bumped into by people who do not realize they’re real human beings).
Many professional living statues are also trained mimes or actors. You will find them at many different events such as street fairs or festivals, and they often perform in costume. These performers provide an important service to the public by delighting and entertaining them with their skillful abilities to