Street artist erects a giant pink penis in New York City

On Christmas Eve, Swedish street artist Carolina Falkholt announced her big ball-less Broome Street dick on Instagram ("NO TIME 4 BALL$$," she wrote).

Three days later, after much controversy, that building's landlord had begun painting over her four-story tall lifelike phallus.

Falkholt shared this statement with Hyperallergic:

We live in cultures where sexual violence and sexual abuse are constantly happening. And there are a lot of raped and abused children who have lost their voices due to the shame that comes with having their own bodies violated at a young age. No more bodyshaming. Talking about these subjects in public space is a must for a healthy, nonviolent community/world. And the dialogue created around feminist public art pieces raises awareness. Art is one of the only places left where we can truly be free and discuss whatever difficult topics there are, since art has the ability to translate and transform language in any direction possible.

Enormous penis pops up in NYC and Local Residents Complain About Penis Mural on Broome Street

Thanks, Dixie!

photo via Carolina Falkholt