Figure in the art world (6)

I believe the answer is:

statue

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'figure in the art world' is the definition.
'statue' can be an answer for 'figure' (statue is a kind of figure). I'm not sure about the 'in the art world' bit.

'figure in the' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'stat' (statistic).
'in the' becomes 'ue' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'stat'+'ue'='STATUE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for statue that I've seen before include "As created by 3dn" , "permanent fixture" , "Still work" , "Sculpture depicting a person" , "Modelled figure of a human or animal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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