The sculpture, named Quasi, after the titular character in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was created by New Zealand-artist Ronnie van Hout in 2016.
The five-metre tall artwork weighs 400 kilograms and will be part of the Wellington skyline for the next three years, sitting atop the Wellington City Gallery.
"The giant hybrid face-hand is based on scans of the artist's own body parts," a description on the gallery's website said.
"It is as if 'the hand of the artist' has developed a monstrous life of its own."
The resin and polystyrene piece was transported via helicopter, given a new hoist and weather-proofed against the notorious Wellington wind at a total cost of around $70,000.
The artwork had been on display in Christchurch - where it was equally polarising.
But some have said on social media that they already miss Quasi.
