Jimi Hendrix Statue

In the Capitol Hill neighborhood, at 1604 Broadway, in Seattle, USA, a bronze sculpture pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Created by artist Daryl Smith and unveiled in January 1997, the work is titled “The Electric Lady Studio Guitar,” a reference to Electric Lady Studios — the New York studio Hendrix founded, which later became one of the most famous in the world.

The sculpture depicts Hendrix kneeling as he plays a Fender Stratocaster. There’s a detail that stands out to musicians and attentive fans alike: Hendrix was left-handed and played right-handed guitars flipped upside down. The sculpture captures this precisely. The whammy bar and control knobs appear oriented upward, whereas on a standard guitar they would point downward. It’s one of Hendrix’s signature traits, carefully reproduced by Smith.

Fans often leave flowers and lit candles around the base of the sculpture. It’s a public monument, open at all hours, located on one of Capitol Hill’s busiest streets.

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle on November 27, 1942. He grew up in the city, learned to play guitar there, and then set out to build one of the most influential careers in music history. In the 1960s, he moved to London, where he spent a year. He died on September 18, 1970, in London, at the age of 27.

Decades later, Seattle still claims him with pride as one of the first global music icons the city gave to the world.

Also check out our Jimi Hendrix tour in Seattle to explore more of the city!