National Cathedral’s modern grotesques include a figure nicknamed 'Darth Vader'

The Washington National Cathedral’s long program of stone carving in the 20th century includes contemporary grotesques and carvings, among them a figure popularly nicknamed the 'Darth Vader' grotesque; the presence of modern, pop-culture-inspired carvings at the cathedral has been widely reported in media and guidebooks. The grotesques are documented elements of the cathedral's more recent decorative program and are accessible to visitors touring the building. Commentaries on the cathedral’s carvings explain that modern donors and carvers contributed unusual motifs alongside traditional imagery.