Chris Reitz, an art historian and chair of Louisville’s Commission on Public Art, has resigned in protest over the city’s plan to restore a statue of King Louis XVI that was damaged by protesters in May 2020 following the police killing of Breonna Taylor. In an op-ed, Reitz argued that the $200,000 restoration cost is unjustified for a statue he deems beyond repair, and accused city officials of trying to erase evidence of the protests. The statue, created by Achille Valois, was originally erected in France in 1829 and gifted to Louisville in 1966; it was vandalized on the same day the city released 911 calls from Taylor’s killing.
This incident matters because it highlights ongoing national debates over public monuments, protest memory, and municipal spending. Reitz’s resignation underscores tensions between local art commissions and city governments, especially as high-profile political figures like President Donald Trump push for the reinstatement of removed monuments. The case also raises questions about the value and symbolism of colonial-era statues in American cities, and whether restoration efforts prioritize historical preservation over community sentiment and racial justice.