Hecuba sculpture centerpiece of USC Village

Christopher Slatoff began shaping the vision of the Trojan queen in the winter of 2014. He pored over images, which he taped around his Lincoln Heights studio, and studied subtle differences in coloring and finish on Greek bronzes at the Getty.

Sculptor Christopher Slatoff brought in models to strike different poses, both regal and humble.

Sculptor Christopher Slatoff works on a 1/2 scale model of Hecuba, queen of Troy.

On the cylindrical base of what would be the 20-foot statue, USC President C.L. Max Nikias wanted Hecuba’s six daughters, modeled after women of Native American, Mayan, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, African American, Middle Eastern and Caucasian descent.

Sculptor Christopher Slatoff works on a full scale model of the cylindrical base of what would be the 20-foot statue. Hecuba’s six daughters were modeled after women of Native American, Mayan, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, African American, Middle Eastern and Caucasian descent, connected by an unfurling ribbon bearing the words Arts, Humanities, Science, Technology, Medicine, and Social Sciences. Hecuba’s face would be a blending of ancestry.

USC President C.L. Max Nikias, center, with sculptor Christopher Slatoff, right, discusses the placement of the statue of Hecuba, queen of Troy, at the new University Village on the USC campus.

Sculptor Christopher Slatoff makes some finishing touches on his sculpture of Hecuba, queen of Troy at the new University Village on the USC campus.

Workers positioning the sculpture of Hecuba, queen of Troy, at USC Village.