ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A beloved public art piece known affectionately as “Wire Man” has found a new home in Asheville’s River Arts District after years of watching over North Church Street in downtown Hendersonville.
The towering wire-wrapped statue, once a fixture outside a now-closed Church Street art gallery, quietly sparked conversations and smiles among passersby for years. With the gallery’s closure and its owners relocating to Florida, the sculpture’s future was uncertain — until now.
“Farewell, Wire Man,” local resident Chrissy Dawn wrote in a July 10 social media post. “Though made of metal, he held a special warmth that touched everyone who passed by.”
The sculpture, described by fans as a gentle giant and a symbol of creativity and community, has been relocated to Marquee Asheville, an art and design marketplace in the city’s River Arts District. Marquee celebrated his arrival in a social media post this week, calling Wire Man its “newest friend” and inviting visitors to “spot him, snap him” and soak up the RAD vibes.
Local art lovers have expressed relief and excitement about the move.
“I’m so happy he didn’t go far,” Patricia Rabiansky Wilfert wrote in a social media post. “Sad to see him leave but I think he will fit in well at the RAD.”
The sculpture had long occupied a spot between Fourth and Fifth avenues, near Hendersonville’s downtown parking deck. Though his exact origins remain something of a local mystery, Wire Man became an unofficial mascot for the area’s artistic spirit.
The towering wire sculpture was a community fixture that was constantly evolving. It was regularly dressed to reflect holidays and special occasions.
“Love him or loathe him, Wire Man has found a new home,” resident Dorothy Tomkins posted Tuesday.
As Marquee prepares for its reopening following damage from Tropical Storm Helene, the sculpture’s future seems secure — and his legacy in Hendersonville endures.
“To whoever gave him a new home — we hope you see what we saw,” Dawn wrote. “A piece of heart woven into wire.”