Featured Artist: John Kearney: Animals in the Gardens

Exhibition Website

May 12 2014 - Aug 12 2019

Wustum Museum

Racine, WI

Visit RAM's Wustum Museum to enjoy the steel sculptures by Chicago artist John Kearney. The works, which depict two giraffes, a pelican, two goats, and a standing female nude, are installed outdoors on the grounds at Wustum. The works are welded out of recycled steel automobile bumpers and are close to life sized.

The pair of giraffes and a nanny goat were once familiar sights on Elaine Place in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood on the city's north side. For a long period of time, they were installed outside a residential property belonging to the sculptures' owners. When that apartment building was sold to a new owner, Kearney's giraffes were not included in the sale. The pieces were placed in storage, in need of a new home. Their removal was covered in depth by the Chicago area media in November 2012 because these animal sculptures were embraced and cherished by the neighborhood residents, who often decorated the works for specific holidays.

The pieces are now on loan to RAM from a private collection. The exhibition of these works in Racine was arranged and facilitated by Chicago area art dealer and consultant, Jeffrey Kraft of JL Kraft Fine Art.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.

  • Sculpture
  • American
  • Contemporary
  • John Kearney

Exhibition Venues & Dates