These whimsical sculptures are the work of the world’s best-selling French artist, Richard Orlinski. As part of an open-air exhibition, these animals can be seen in all corners of the city throughout the summer.
Lion, bear, crocodile, gorilla, wild animals have taken over the city. Richard Orlinski has turned Nice into his own bestiary of colorful and oversized animals. The contemporary artist, very trendy, especially among the wealthy and celebrities, is exhibiting ten of his remarkable sculptures for all to see in an open-air exhibition.
A trademark he cultivates in numerous French and foreign cities, as well as in more unusual places. Accessible both day and night, “this artistic stroll democratizes art to make it accessible to everyone,” according to the municipality. It is precisely in collaboration with the city that he is exhibiting his resin menagerie. The city only covered the transportation and installation costs; the sculptures are on loan from the artist.
A Menagerie from La Libération to the Port
The ten artistic installations with geometric shapes and pop colors can be found in ten iconic locations throughout Nice. From June 8 until September 30, 2023, passersby can spot these animals, from the Libération neighborhood to the port, passing through Place Massena.
In the spirit of a treasure hunt, a city map allows everyone to locate each sculpture. You will find the iconic Kongs, arriving in a herd of four, as well as two bears, the Standing Wild Bear and the Walking Bear. The mammals are accompanied by the fierce T-Rex, the impetuous Horse, the powerful Roaring Lion, and the Crocodile, the animal that was the subject of his first creation over ten years ago.
A Bond with the Côte d’Azur
This “sculptor of the stars” is not new to the Côte d’Azur. Attached to the South, he owns a gallery in the shopping area of Saint-Tropez. He has already exhibited his Kong, then electric blue, on the Boulevard de la République in Beausoleil in October and November 2022.
His sculptures are also not entirely unknown to the city of Angels. During the 150th Nice Carnival last February, a gigantic three-meter-high gorilla appeared in the heart of the festive village, within the green corridor.
“After the presence of his foundry workshops, the opening of his first Concept Store, and now this monumental open-air exhibition, the artist strengthens his ties with the City of Nice, for which he has always had a special affection since his childhood,” shares the municipality. Indeed, the artist has set up on the fourth floor of Galeries Lafayette in Nice Masséna. He offers in a pop-up store derivative products until the end of August 2023.
