Chris Cornell Statue

The musician Chris Cornell has a statue in his honor in Seattle, the city where he was born.

Chris Cornell was born in Seattle in 1964 and died on May 18, 2017, at the age of 52. Between those two points, he built one of the most far-reaching careers in modern rock: he was the vocalist and co-founder of Soundgarden, one of the central bands of the grunge movement alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains; he took part in the Temple of the Dog project as a tribute to his friend Andrew Wood; he formed Audioslave in the 2000s with members of Rage Against the Machine; and throughout it all he maintained a substantial solo career. He was also widely recognized as one of the most powerful and versatile voices of his generation.

In October 2018, a statue in his honor was unveiled in front of the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) at Seattle Center. The life-size bronze work was sculpted by artist Nick Marra and was commissioned and donated by Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell.

One detail in the execution is worth noting: the sculpture’s eyes carry a subtle blue pigmentation, a reference to one of Cornell’s most remembered physical features.

At the base of the statue, a plaque bears the text Vicky Cornell chose to accompany the work:

Chris Cornell in Performance
Bronze sculpture by Nick Marra, 2018
Commissioned and donated by Vicky Cornell

Chris Cornell (1964-2017) was one of the most prolific songwriters and greatest voices of the modern rock era.

Born and raised in Seattle, Cornell discovered music at a young age. As a founding member and frontman of Soundgarden, he became one of the architects of the grunge movement. His songs and voice ignited the alternative rock scene and helped put Seattle on the map as one of the world’s great music cities.

Cornell’s work with Soundgarden, as well as Temple of the Dog, Audioslave, and his own solo career, greatly impacted popular music and will continue to inspire future artists and bands for generations to come.

“I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky”
Chris Cornell, “I Am the Highway”

The Chris Cornell statue is one of several points of interest for rock fans — and grunge fans in particular — who visit Seattle. It stands on the sidewalk in front of MoPOP, accessible at any hour, with no ticket required, just 750 feet from the Seattle Center Monorail Station.