The Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile, Chicago, Illinois  |  Cast Resin with Composite Bronze Finish  |  80” x 42” x 30”

Big Shoulders is a sculpture by Brad Oldham of a hardworking Chicagoan man to exemplify those on whose shoulders the great city of Chicago was built upon. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the collective communities came together to rebuild this city in steel and stone, setting a new precedent for worldwide construction. The economic booms of the early 20th century and the bust of the Great Depression further shaped the city and its people into the unique city it is today. The accentuated strong arms and back of Big Shoulders pays homage to the many strong workers in Chicago who continue to build the great city of Chicago. The character seen in Big Shoulders is a gritty, physically imposing man who doesn’t let anything stop his progress.