Honoring the African-American Experience

Soul in Flight: A Memorial to Arthur Ashe

Sculptor Eric Fishl; Landscape architect & designer Mark Sullivan, 2000.
United States Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens
Bronze, granite

This sculpture on the grounds of the United States Tennis Center commemorates tennis star and humanitarian Arthur Ashe. Set on a landscaped mound, the heroic classical nude stretches his left arm upwards in a gesture that while taken from the tennis serve, is purely symbolic. The piece thus is not a literal representation of Ashe, but instead an allegory of grace, power and aspiration. This sculpture is framed by curved walls inscribed with biographical details, as well as an inspiration motto favored by Ashe: "From what we get, we make a living; What we give, however, makes a life."

Read the Historical Sign for Soul in Flight