Cry Baby Hill Statue Artist Demands City Uphold Contract

Six-page letter demands city take action within 10 days to address alleged breach of agreement.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The artist behind the Cry Baby Hill statue in Oklahoma City has sent a six-page letter to the city demanding that it uphold its contractual obligations within 10 days. The letter, dated January 16th, outlines six specific actions the city must take to cure the alleged breach of contract and confirm compliance with the original agreement.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the challenges artists can face when working with local governments on public art projects. The Cry Baby Hill statue is a prominent landmark, and the city's response to the artist's demands will be closely watched by the local arts community.

The details

The six-page letter from the Cry Baby Hill statue artist alleges the city has failed to meet its contractual obligations. It demands the city take six specific actions within 10 days to address the breach, including making overdue payments, providing proper credit and attribution, and ensuring the artwork is maintained as agreed.

  • The six-page letter is dated January 16, 2026.
  • The letter demands the city take action within 10 days.

The players

Cry Baby Hill Statue Artist

The artist responsible for creating the prominent Cry Baby Hill statue in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City

The local government entity that commissioned the Cry Baby Hill statue and is now in dispute with the artist over alleged breaches of their contract.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The city has 10 days to respond to the artist's demands and address the alleged contract breaches.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the importance of clear, enforceable contracts between artists and local governments when undertaking public art projects. The outcome will be closely watched by the arts community to see if the city upholds its obligations to the artist.