The secret behind the pink tutus popping up across Birmingham

While out and about in Birmingham, you may have noticed some bright pink tutus around town. The fluffy accessories have seemingly overnight appeared on trees, statues and even on some people downtown.

Local social media has been buzzing with speculation about where they are coming from: Are they meant to be a promotion for a business or event? Maybe a charity getting the word out about its cause? Just a local pulling silly hijinks?

Turns out, there is one person behind it, and she’s got the support of a legendary artist’s nonprofit as she paints the Magic City pink.

The Tutu Project

Renee Hanan Plata, a local abstract artist, has been sneaking around Birmingham with her assistant, Mary Shelton Hornsby, and scattering pink tutus in her wake since last summer.

She is a recipient of a grant for 2026 from the Verdant Fund, a collaboration between Alabama’s Coleman Center for the Arts, the Alabama Contemporary Art Center and Birmingham’s own Space One Eleven. The fund disperses $60,000 per year from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts with “an emphasis on artists that have been underrepresented and underfinanced within the state,” according to the Verdant Fund’s website.

Whether or not the tutus sparked any feelings within you, as long as they get noticed, Plata considers that a win.

“The premise for the grant was that most people walk around looking at their phone and not really engaging with the environment.”

Renee Hanan Plata

Bringing Birmingham together

Especially in divisive times like these, she said, she didn’t want her project to be seen as something controversial. Instead, the tutus are simply meant to be silly and promote connection in the community.

“The tutu is something that we all can share so that it doesn’t become something political. It becomes something more hysterical…

“This is to unite people and to bring more playfulness back to our world.”

Renee Hanan Plata

She hoped to remain anonymous for as long as possible, but as more tutus made their way around Birmingham, more people began to speculate about who was behind the installations — in a way, further promoting community in a way she hadn’t expected.

The main sentiment from folks online, however, was delight.

“We have 2 on the trees right outside our loft building. Makes me smile every morning when I turn to get on the road to start my day. It’s an early morning smile! I hope everyone gets to experience this.”

Comment from Tammy Harris Wales on the Bham Now Facebook page

Plata has some plans in store with the project that she is keeping under wraps for now, but for now, she has every intention to keep spreading joy and pink tutus throughout Birmingham.

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