Concrete Jungle Meets Conservation: Gillie and Marc’s Wildlife Sculptures Roar onto Lincoln Road
Source: Lincoln Road District
Reported By: Caroline Dalal
Lincoln Road Expands Its Public Art Portfolio with Powerful Wildlife Installations
Miami Beach, FL – July 17, 2025 — Lincoln Road has long been a gathering place for shoppers, diners, and people-watchers. Now, it’s also home to a 40-foot bronze couch shared by endangered animals—and that’s just the beginning.
This month, the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District (BID) unveiled three new public art installations by internationally acclaimed artist duo Gillie and Marc, bringing their signature blend of accessibility, playfulness, and wildlife advocacy to one of Miami Beach’s most iconic outdoor spaces. The works—"The Wild Couch Party," "Watch Out for Paparazzi Dog," and "Watch Out for Paparazzi Rabbit"—will be on view through July 2026.
The new sculptures build upon the duo’s ongoing partnership with Lincoln Road, following the success of their 2024 Miami debut with “The Giraffe and Chimpanzee Were on a Wild Ride to a Safer Place with Rabbitwoman and Dogman” and “The White Rhino Bench of Friendship,” both of which remain on display.
“The Wild Couch Party”: Wildlife in the Round
Anchoring the exhibit is “The Wild Couch Party,” now installed on the 400 block of Lincoln Road. Weighing in at over 13,000 pounds and measuring 40 feet long, the monumental bronze work invites the public to take a seat—literally.
Set atop an oversized couch, the sculpture brings together Gillie and Marc’s iconic Dogman and Rabbitwoman characters with twelve endangered animals, including African elephants, Bengal tigers, Masai giraffes, chimpanzees, hippos, koalas, and more. The scene isn’t static—it’s a tableau of unity, defiance, and quiet urgency. The animals, posed mid-lounge or lean, offer a disarmingly playful composition that carries a far more serious undercurrent: the ongoing threat of extinction and the need for global conservation.
“We believe art has the power to move people—to awaken empathy, to ignite passion and to inspire change. By bringing these sculptures to Lincoln Road, we're putting endangered animals in plain sight—where they can no longer be ignored or forgotten.”
Gillie and Marc, Internationally Acclaimed Artist Duo
Paparazzi in Gold: A Commentary on Visibility
Further down the promenade on the 700 block, two smaller but no less captivating sculptures add a layer of satire and spectacle to the street: “Watch Out for Paparazzi Dog” and “Watch Out for Paparazzi Rabbit.”
Finished in a gleaming gold patina, the bronze figures emerge from below ground—climbing out of utility holes, cameras in hand. At approximately 4 to 5 feet tall, they blur the line between observer and subject, suggesting that fame, attention, and recognition can belong to anyone—or anything—at any moment.
Known for using their hybrid animal-human characters as avatars for empathy, the artists here riff on modern media culture, offering a subtle critique of celebrity obsession while turning the lens back on the public itself.
Art as Open Invitation
Lincoln Road has long positioned itself at the intersection of commerce and culture, and the addition of these installations continues that legacy. More than static pieces, these works are designed to engage, provoke, and invite participation, furthering the BID’s mission to make art a part of everyday life.
“These sculptures do exactly what great public art should do: They stop people in their tracks, get them talking and make them think – in this case, about wildlife protection. It’s wonderful to see families and visitors from around the world discover these meaningful pieces.”
Anabel Llopis, A Representative from the Lincoln Road BID
The placement of art in such a high-traffic, pedestrian-friendly zone transforms Lincoln Road into an urban gallery, where locals and tourists alike are offered a chance to engage with serious themes through approachable, visually compelling forms.
Where Culture Walks the Boulevard
Named “the most successful and prolific creators of public art in New York’s history” by The New York Times, Gillie and Marc continue to build momentum through public installations that challenge, inspire, and celebrate. Their Miami works are no exception, reflecting their long-held commitment to wildlife advocacy and storytelling through sculpture.
These new additions further cement Lincoln Road’s role as a destination for immersive art experiences, seamlessly woven into the fabric of Miami Beach’s outdoor lifestyle. It’s not just about seeing art—it’s about interacting with it, posing with it, and thinking twice as you walk past.