Two oversized peach and eggplant sculptures will remain on Main Street in Ellicott City, a judge ruled Thursday.The statues — installed as part of the “Fund for Art in Ellicott City” — have sparked months of debate as some residents celebrated them as public art while others raised concerns about their appropriateness.The peach statue sits outside the Georgia Grace Cafe while the eggplant, known as the aubergine, is located across the street, outside The Wine Bin.The Historic Preservation Commission expressed concerns that the sculptures detracted from the historic buildings in the area and it asked merchants to remove them.”There was a huge debacle because of the sexual innuendos with the peach and the eggplant,” Paula Dwyer, owner of Georgia Grace Cafe, told WBAL-TV 11 News.Petitions even circulated to keep the statues in place.”Everybody on the street was signing. They came in, ‘Where can I sign these petitions? We want the peach to stay. We want it here. We love it,'” Dwyer told WBAL-TV 11 News.Dwyer said the judge ruled that the commission lacked the authority to regulate public art under its guidelines and could not force the statues’ removal.”We were cheering! I mean, we were so excited,” Dwyer told WBAL-TV 11 News. “The Historic Preservation Commission just didn’t have the authority to accept or deny this public art. The guidelines just didn’t address it, and so they vacated it. So, the peach gets to stay. I’m so happy about it because the town is going to be happy about it.”| ARCHIVE VIDEO BELOW: Peach, eggplant art create controversy in Ellicott City (September 2025)The sculptures have drawn mixed reactions from residents, with many expressing support for the decision.”It’s just something different; catches your eye. You see it and you say, ‘Wow.’ Yeah, this is great. So, this is just exciting,” said Yousef Shahegh, an Ellicott City resident of more than 40 years.”I don’t think it’s that serious. I think it’s a little fun piece of fruit, and if you’re going to get your panties in a twist about that, then that’s all you,” said Carlee Pugh, who was born and raised in Ellicott City.Dwyer called the ruling a relief and told WBAL-TV 11 News she hopes the sculptures will continue to bring character to the town.”Without the community support, I don’t know if we could have come this far,” Dwyer told WBAL-TV 11 News. “This was just a huge thing, and it just shows what people can do when they come together, and I think it’s great and it’s a great statement for the arts.”The Historic Preservation Commission has yet to respond to WBAL-TV’s requests for comment.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. —
Two oversized peach and eggplant sculptures will remain on Main Street in Ellicott City, a judge ruled Thursday.
The statues — installed as part of the “Fund for Art in Ellicott City” — have sparked months of debate as some residents celebrated them as public art while others raised concerns about their appropriateness.
The peach statue sits outside the Georgia Grace Cafe while the eggplant, known as the aubergine, is located across the street, outside The Wine Bin.
The Historic Preservation Commission expressed concerns that the sculptures detracted from the historic buildings in the area and it asked merchants to remove them.
“There was a huge debacle because of the sexual innuendos with the peach and the eggplant,” Paula Dwyer, owner of Georgia Grace Cafe, told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Petitions even circulated to keep the statues in place.
“Everybody on the street was signing. They came in, ‘Where can I sign these petitions? We want the peach to stay. We want it here. We love it,'” Dwyer told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Dwyer said the judge ruled that the commission lacked the authority to regulate public art under its guidelines and could not force the statues’ removal.
“We were cheering! I mean, we were so excited,” Dwyer told WBAL-TV 11 News. “The Historic Preservation Commission just didn’t have the authority to accept or deny this public art. The guidelines just didn’t address it, and so they vacated it. So, the peach gets to stay. I’m so happy about it because the town is going to be happy about it.”
| ARCHIVE VIDEO BELOW: Peach, eggplant art create controversy in Ellicott City (September 2025)
The sculptures have drawn mixed reactions from residents, with many expressing support for the decision.
“It’s just something different; catches your eye. You see it and you say, ‘Wow.’ Yeah, this is great. So, this is just exciting,” said Yousef Shahegh, an Ellicott City resident of more than 40 years.
“I don’t think it’s that serious. I think it’s a little fun piece of fruit, and if you’re going to get your panties in a twist about that, then that’s all you,” said Carlee Pugh, who was born and raised in Ellicott City.
“If you’re going to get your panties in a twist about that, then that’s all you.”
Dwyer called the ruling a relief and told WBAL-TV 11 News she hopes the sculptures will continue to bring character to the town.
“Without the community support, I don’t know if we could have come this far,” Dwyer told WBAL-TV 11 News. “This was just a huge thing, and it just shows what people can do when they come together, and I think it’s great and it’s a great statement for the arts.”
The Historic Preservation Commission has yet to respond to WBAL-TV’s requests for comment.