Marking a poignant moment in Motor City history, in 2025, Detroit native and sculptor Austin Brantley was tasked with building a monumental tribute to one of 20th century America’s most enduring legends: Joe Louis. Immortalizing the heavyweight boxer, golfer, and humanitarian in bronze, self-taught artist Brantley molds a powerful form of preservation, channelling his craft into public commissions that carry stories across generations.

- John Sippel

Capturing Brantley’s artistic practice as the figure takes form, director John Sippel meditates on a lesser-known chapter of Louis’ story, and the intersection of legacy and creation, for the short documentary My Hands Purpose. Between the tactile processes and sense of scale that guide Brantley’s hand, and collected stories shared by the Joe Louis family, archival footage and reflections illustrate the deep significance that roots the sculpture, and a history retold through craft – celebrating Louis as a beacon of resilience and progress for the barriers he broke outside the ring.