[2] Inspired by his surroundings, in 2017 Di Modica told an interviewer that as a child he had liked to hang out at the craftsmen's workshops and watch them weaving baskets and carving wooden carts.

[3] As his father didn't approve of him becoming an artist, Di Modica ran away from home at the age of 18, taking a train to Florence to pursue a career in sculpting.

[2] By the late 1960s, Di Modica had begun working with Carrara marble in Pietrasanta, where he met English sculptor Henry Moore.

[6] Di Modica set up his first studio on Grand Street in SoHo, a neighborhood popular for its emerging bohemian art scene.

It was also at this address that Di Modica found a young graffiti artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat (also known as SAMO), spray painting his studio door.

[6] In 1977, Di Modica held a major exhibition at Battery Park and invited art critic Hilton Kramer to the show.

Upon hearing about the commotion and interested to meet the artist, Mayor Abe Beame arrived and, after receiving a $25 fine, Di Modica was granted permission to temporarily leave the sculptures on exhibit.

After tearing down the original shack, he built a new building using salvaged materials, completely to his own design and without planning permission.

Once complete, Di Modica spent the next few nights watching the police patrols on Wall Street trying to find a window of opportunity.

Due to public demand for the bull's return, Parks Commissioner Henry Stern arranged for the sculpture's installation at Bowling Green on December 20, where it can be found to this day.

[10] Di Modica's original concept was to inspire each person who came into contact with the sculpture to carry on fighting with strength and determination through the hard times for the future.

While in conversation with art critic and writer Anthony Haden-Guest, Di Modica later explained: My point was to show people that if you want to do something in a moment things are very bad, you can do it.

[4] In March 2019, a stainless steel version of Charging Bull went to auction at Sotheby's New York and despite being in poor condition, sold for $275,000.

Di Modica believed it would become an international attraction capable of drawing in tourists from all over the world and helping the local economy.