Robert Kelly designed the sculpture and fountain for the Martin Luther King Memorial in Seattle, Washington. It was dedicated November 16, 1991.
The Martin Luther King Memorial
Photo: ArtToday.com Rising from an elliptical reflecting pool in the Martin Luther King Memorial Park, Robert Kelly's sculpture is a symbolic memorial to the slain civil rights leader. Carved from black granite, the 30-foot sculpture was inspired by Martin Luther King's "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, made the day before he was assassinated in 1968. The monument is composed of three segments representing the Christian Trinity and also the union of mother, father, and child. Twelve bronze plaques around the edge of the pool relate key events from Martin Luther King's life: his birth, his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize, his assassination and the creation of the national holiday in his honor. The sculpture and fountain are surrounded by a hillside with six curving terraces offering views of Rainier Valley.
Robert Kelly was a Seattle native and an instructor at Edmonds Community College. The concept for the memorial originated with Seattle resident Charlie James.
Learn More About the Martin Luther King Memorial in Seattle:
Other Memorials for Martin Luther King, Jr.:
