Vandalism of A Virgin Mary Sculpture Giving Birth

A sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus, designed by Austrian artist Esther Strauß , was recently beheaded inside St. Mary’s Cathedral in Linz, Austria. The controversial sculpture showed Mary sitting on a rock and giving birth.

While placed on a pedestal in the middle of the room inside the cathedral and was vandalized just days after its installation on July 1, 2024.

The controversy arose because it depicted Mary in the act of giving birth to Jesus, which some critics argued ignored the sacred nature of the birth of Christ, a central mystery of the Christian faith. The Catholic diocese of Linz condemned the act of vandalism, stating that the Virgin Mary’s head was sawed off early Monday morning. The artist, Esther Strauss, also condemned the destruction, noting that most portraits of the Virgin Mary have traditionally served patriarchal interests. The diocese expressed deep regret over the incident.