After exhibitions in New York City and Miami Beach, the highly recognized Wild Couch Party is calling Water Street Tampa home, giving residents and visitors a new interactive piece of public art to enjoy.
The interactive statue is more than a group of animals sitting on a couch. The sculpture spotlights 12 of the world’s endangered animals and stretches 40 feet long, with open seats allowing spectators to sit alongside the animals facing extinction.
The sculpture includes a hippo, Masai giraffe, African elephant, Bengal tiger, koala, chimpanzee, Grevy’s zebra, northern white rhino, lion, mountain gorilla, orangutan and Arabian red fox.
“The Wild Couch Party captures so much of what we want people to experience at Water Street Tampa. It’s unexpected, welcoming and something you can actually interact with,” said Lindsay English, senior events manager at Strategic Property Partners, in a press release. “We see this becoming one of those places where friends meet, families stop for a photo and people walking through the neighborhood take a minute to sit down and enjoy it. At the same time, there is a meaningful story behind the piece that can introduce people to these animals and the challenges they face. That combination of art, connection and purpose makes it a special addition to Water Street Tampa.”
