Ruth Bader Ginsburg at her confirmation hearing / R. Michael Jenkins, Congressional Quarterly. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
New York is inviting artists to help honor late Supreme Court Justice and Brooklyn native Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a new memorial at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul launched an artist competition to design the memorial, celebrating Ginsburg’s contributions to civil rights, gender equality, and the rule of law. The announcement comes during the same month as the fifth anniversary of Ginsburg’s passing in 2020.
The commission to oversee the creation of the memorial was launched by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2020. The 15 commission members include Ginsburg’s daughters and granddaughters, the principal of James Madison High School, where RBG attended, a former clerk, and other arts and advocacy leaders.
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a daughter of Brooklyn who became a giant of American jurisprudence,” Hochul said. “Over her forty years of service as a federal judge, Justice Ginsburg transformed the law, leading with grit and grace.”
The governor added: “This memorial will ensure that future generations can visit her home borough and be inspired by her unwavering commitment to equal justice under law, her brilliant legal mind and her determination to dismantle barriers. Today, we honor her unparalleled legacy in creating a space that represents a beacon of hope for every American.”
The call for artists invites submissions from creators and designers to develop a memorial highlighting Ginsburg’s profound impact on American law and society. The competition will take place in two phases, with phase one finalists selected in spring 2026 to advance to phase two for more detailed proposal development.
The project is backed by a $1 million state capital grant administered through Empire State Development, while members of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Commission work to raise additional private funds to support the overall budget. Established in 2020, the commission includes Ginsburg’s family members, former clerks, and leaders from the arts and advocacy communities.
“We are delighted at the Governor’s announcement of this memorial to our mother and grandmother, sited in the borough where she was born and raised. We are excited to learn how artists propose to honor her formidable legacy,” Jane C. Ginsburg, daughter of Justice Ginsburg, and Clara Spera, granddaughter of Justice Ginsburg, said.
Artists interested in submitting to the competition can find more information here. The deadline for phase one submissions is February 2, 2026.
The memorial will join another Brooklyn site named for Justice Ginsburg. In March 2021, officials renamed the Brooklyn Municipal Building at 210 Joralemon Street in her honor, following a campaign that then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams launched in 2018.
Also that year, a six-foot bronze statue of Ginsburg created by artists Gillie and Marc Schattner was installed at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn. In 2022, the statue was moved to the new Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital building in Coney Island.
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