The City of Mobile has announced that internationally acclaimed sculptor Ben Victor will create a bronze statue of music legend Jimmy Buffett on the city's downtown waterfront. The announcement comes as part of a collaborative effort between the City of Mobile, the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf, and members of the Buffett family to honor the late singer's lasting impact on music and Gulf Coast culture.
The 7.5-foot-tall statue will depict the iconic singer and Coastal Alabama native in a classic pose, playing his guitar while gazing out over the water that inspired him throughout his early life and career. The bronze sculpture is scheduled to be unveiled in September 2026 on the city's downtown riverfront outside the Maritime Museum, serving as one of many ways the community plans to continue honoring Jimmy Buffett's musical and cultural legacy.
Working in partnership with the Mobile Arts Council, a local committee collaborated with multiple members of the Buffett family to evaluate submissions from more than 30 sculptors from around the world. These artists were tasked with creating a statue that would authentically capture the spirit that made Jimmy Buffett such a beloved figure in the world of music and beyond. After conducting an extensive review process, sculptor Ben Victor was selected for his exceptional skill, extensive experience, and distinct artistic vision for the project.
"Jimmy Buffett's music has long celebrated the beauty and spirit of the Gulf Coast," said Karen Poth, Executive Director of the Maritime Museum. "We are thrilled that Ben Victor will bring this vision to life, creating a tribute that will inspire music lovers, tourists, and Mobilians for generations to come."
Victor has earned international recognition for his public sculptures and maintains an extensive portfolio that includes expressive and lifelike representations of historic and cultural figures, including a notable statue of country musician Merle Haggard in Muskogee, Oklahoma. At age 26, Victor achieved the remarkable distinction of becoming the youngest artist ever to have a sculpture placed in the nation's foremost collection, the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. He holds the unique honor of being the only living artist to have four sculptures featured in Statuary Hall.
Jimmy Buffett spent his formative years in Mobile and graduated from the McGill Institute, now known as McGill-Toolen, in 1964. Though he lived in and wrote about communities across the Gulf Coast throughout his career, Mobile remained a place that Buffett always called home. His deep connection to the Port City and its waters profoundly influenced his music and artistic development.
As part of an ongoing riverfront revitalization initiative, the city will also commemorate Jimmy Buffett's legacy with an immersive exhibit at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf, which will open in September 2026 to coincide with the unveiling of the new statue. The Jimmy Buffett Experience will be a one-of-a-kind exhibit showcasing Buffett's life and musical career, as well as his profound impact on Gulf Coast culture and communities.
Thanks to partnerships with the Buffett family and Jimmy's longtime collaborators, the exhibition will feature numerous artifacts from his personal life and career, along with previously unreleased recordings, rare videos, and behind-the-scenes footage captured throughout his decades-long musical journey. This comprehensive tribute will provide visitors with an intimate look at the man behind the music and his enduring connection to the waters and communities that shaped his artistic vision.
