Ohad Meromi

Ohad Meromi (Hebrew: אוהד מרומי; born 1967) is an Israeli sculptor. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. In 2023, Meromi began representation with New York gallery, 56 Henry.

Meromi is known for his distinctive and often provocative sculptures. One of his most notable works is The Sunbather, an eight-foot-long, 4,000-pound bronze sculpture of a reclining human form, painted vibrant pink. This piece, installed in Long Island City, sparked significant controversy due to the lack of community involvement in the selection process and its striking appearance. Critics described the sculpture as "too bright, too big, too ugly and too expensive," with some expressing concerns that its size and color could distract drivers and cause accidents.

The Sunbather

His sculpture The Sunbather (an eight-foot-long, 4,000-pound bronze sculpture of a reclining human form, painted vibrant pink and costing an estimated $515,000, of which Meromi received $103,000) was chosen to be installed on Long Island City, a decision which evoked significant controversy, primarily because there was no community involvement in the process of its selection. A three-person panel that was composed of a member from Socrates Sculpture Park, SculptureCenter and a local artist selected the commission without input from Community Board 2 or the public was responsible for choosing it. Residents complained the sculpture was "too bright, too big, too ugly and too expensive".