CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (CHSA) TO ANNOUNCE THE BRUCE LEE STATUE PROJECT THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 11AM AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT CHSA MUSEUM’S WE ARE BRUCE LEE EXHIBITION

Issue Date: March 5, 2025 

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown will join community leaders to speak on project details and the social and historical significance of having a public statue for the Chinatown native son and global influencer and iconic thinker 

March 5, 2025, San Francisco, CA — The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum (CHSA) will be announcing the initial launch of the Bruce Lee Statue project, which pays tribute to the iconic martial artist and film star who was born in San Francisco Chinatown in 1940. In collaboration with a coalition of community members including the Rose Pak Community Fund, The Bruce Lee Foundation, and Stand With Asians, CHSA is leading the initiative to commission and erect a public statue in honor of this historic Chinese American figure. Led in part by the vision of Bruce Lee superfan and lead docent of CHSA’s We Are Bruce Lee: Under the Sky, One Family exhibit, Jeff Chinn, and the passion of Mark Young, co-founder of Stand with Asians, this project focuses on eternalizing Lee in action through a singular moment from his most lucrative and well-known film, Enter the Dragon (1973).

The larger-than-life sculptural monument will focus on the precise moment where Lee prowls on the ground in a fight to the death with his cinematic adversary. In this moment, Lee’s body is taut with a relaxed but alert tension, muscles and tendons glistening as he shifts his weight ready to strike and defend. To perfect the translation of the cinematic still frame image into a three-dimensional bronze monument, CHSA has identified and selected internationally acclaimed artist Arnie Kim to realize the project. Born in Seoul and based in Goyang-si, South Korea, Kim is a renowned figure sculptor and the CEO of Arnie Kim Studio. Educated in fine arts with a focus on sculpture, he gained recognition for his lifelike sculptures of iconic figures such as Bruce Lee and Christopher Reeve’s Superman. Under his leadership, Arnie Kim Studio has become a leading name in the collectible industry, known for its high-quality figures and sculptures. Kim’s work is characterized by a blend of realism and artistic expression, capturing the emotional depth and physical nuances of his subjects. With his expertise in sculpting iconic figures, Kim is an ideal candidate to design a Bruce Lee statue for San Francisco’s Chinatown, ensuring a fitting tribute to the martial arts legend.

This statue project is an extension of the work that CHSA has done over the last five years to spotlight the life and times of Chinatown’s native son, which includes the immersive We Are Bruce Lee exhibit that presents his life into four pillars: his creative talent, his athletic prowess, his philosophical inclinations, and his role as a unifier between Black and Asian communities. With a cinematic oeuvre that has come to stand for racial harmony, perseverance, and the fight against adversity, Lee’s legacy has transcended generations of fans as a unifying figure around the world. The statue will be an expansion of the role that Lee continues to play in galvanizing the local community to understand its own history and to learn lessons from the struggles he endured that enabled him to shape the world into what it is today. CHSA will be working with community representatives across the city to find the ideal permanent home in Chinatown for this statue. Directing the fundraising efforts to cover the costs around fabrication, transportation, and installation of this sculpture in San Francisco, CHSA is working closely with the Rose Pak Community Fund, which will be providing $50,000 as first-round seed money. CHSA is asking for the community to pledge a 1:1 match to fundraise $150,000 for this entire project and will be working with additional community partners to raise awareness of the project and to complete it. “We are excited to collaborate with the community to further memorialize and celebrate the life and accomplishments of Bruce Lee,” states Justin Hoover, former executive director of CHSA and currently CHSA’s Director of Special Projects. “The Bruce Lee Statue project is just one way the community can support this hero of Asian American culture, and together we can continue his message of cultural unity and forbearance.”

“I grew up watching Bruce Lee’s films with my parents and relatives,” says Gorretti Lo Lui, Vice President of the Rose Pak Community Fund. “His films are part of our family’s collective memory and decades later today, following younger generations still being influenced by his films and philosophy. It is a testimony to the timelessness and power of Bruce Lee and his films. Having a public statue to educate about Bruce Lee in the Chinatown where he was born is both a fitting tribute and will serve as a pilgrimage destination for people across the world.” Adds Mark Young, “This statue of San Francisco’s native son is both a tribute and an enduring symbol of resilience, unity, and empowerment. Bruce Lee broke barriers not just in film and martial arts, but also in the way he inspired generations to stand tall in the face of adversity. Stand With Asians is honored to help bring this vision to life, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire and uplift our community for years to come.”

WHAT: Chinese Historical Society of America Museum (CHSA) Announces Bruce Lee Statue Project in San Francisco’s Chinatown

WHEN: Friday, March 7, 2025, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Chinese Historical Society of America Museum We Are Bruce Lee: Under the Sky, One Family exhibit 965 Clay Street, San Francisco

WHO: Mayor Willie Brown, 41st Mayor of San Francisco
Gorretti Lo Lui, Vice President & Co-Founder, Rose Pak Community Fund
Janice Pettey, Executive Director, CHSA
Walter Lim, Co-President, CHSA
Justin Hoover, Director of Special Projects, CHSA
Jeff Chinn, We Are Bruce Lee Exhibit Lead Docent, CHSA
Mark Young, Co-Founder, Stand With Asians

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About CHSA
The Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco is the oldest organization in the country dedicated to the presentation of Chinese American history. Since 1963, CHSA has strived to be a responsible steward of the remarkable narrative of the Chinese American community through historical and cultural exhibits, education, and programming. Learn more at CHSA.org.

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