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Artist: Gillie and Marc
Artwork: Sculpture
Title: 'They Were the Whale Riders'
Medium: Bronze with Gold Patina
Edition: 8/100
Dimensions: H= 22cm x L= 16cm x W= 33cm
Weight: 3.1kgs
Artists Statement:
Riding together on a new adventure, doing what they love the most while looking out for the wonderful hippo, Rabbitwoman and Dogman could not have been happier. As an iconic species of wildlife, the hippopotamus needs to be cherished. However, it has now become vulnerable due to habitat loss. Rabbitwoman and Dogman ride the hippo into the hearts and minds of people across the world, reminding us of how precious they are and that we need to love and protect them.
For every purchase of a bronze sculpture, you will receive a Certificate of Authenticity from the artists.
"The world depends on contemporary artists to challenge life as we know it. We, the contemporary artist, pull apart the world, so it can be put back together as something different."
Eco-Warrior Artists Using Love and Art to Save Wildlife
British–Australian artists Gillie and Marc have been called “the most successful and prolific creators of public art in New York’s history” by The New York Times.
For more than three decades, this internationally celebrated duo has transformed city streets, airports, bridges, and cultural landmarks into places of connection, compassion, and conservation — proving that art can do more than inspire. It can change the world. With sculptures and exhibitions in over 250 cities worldwide, Gillie and Marc are redefining what public art can be: immersive, interactive experiences that spark empathy, tell stories of love and unity, and urgently advocate for the planet’s most endangered species.
Often referred to as “the world’s most loving artists,” Gillie and Marc have worked side by side for over 30 years, their personal partnership mirrored in their creative mission. They met on a photo shoot in Hong Kong — and just seven days later ran away together to Nepal, marrying at the foothills of the Himalayas. Since then, they have been inseparable, creating art together every single day, using creativity as their shared language of activism, hope, and devotion.
Rabbitwoman and Dogman — Love as a Superpower
At the heart of their practice are their beloved alter egos, Rabbitwoman and Dogman — deeply personal, autobiographical characters who tell the story of two unlikely beings coming together and, against all odds and differences, becoming best friends and soulmates. They embody acceptance, love, and the beauty of embracing what makes us different.
Rabbitwoman and Dogman reflect Gillie and Marc themselves. The artists are opposites in many ways — Gillie is from England and Marc from Australia; Gillie is Catholic and Marc is Jewish. In the wild, a dog would kill a rabbit. But in their world, two unlikely souls meet, unite, and become one — proving that differences do not divide us, they strengthen us.
As unlikely animal companions, the Rabbit and the Dog symbolise diversity, compassion, and the transformative power of love. Together they travel the world as eco-warriors, standing up for wildlife and teaching that courage and empathy can overcome fear and indifference.
Rabbitwoman and Dogman are also hybrids — half human and half wild — serving as a living bridge between the human world and the natural world. Through them, Gillie and Marc express their profound connection to wildlife and conservation, reminding us that humanity is not separate from nature, but part of it.
Through Rabbitwoman and Dogman, Gillie and Marc share a simple yet powerful message: we are stronger together, and love is humanity’s greatest superpower.
A Deep Spiritual Bond with Wildlife
Both artists have a profound spiritual connection to animals and the natural world — a bond shaped from an early age and rooted in lived experience.
Gillie spent her formative years in Africa, growing up in Zambia surrounded by wildlife. Elephants, giraffes, and lions were part of her everyday world, and it was there that she began drawing animals as a child, instinctively capturing their beauty and spirit. Alongside these extraordinary encounters, she also witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of poaching on endangered species.
At the age of nine, her life changed forever. While out on safari, Gillie heard a sudden gunshot followed by a gut-wrenching cry. Racing toward the sound, she discovered a magnificent elephant that had been shot down by a poacher. Standing before the fallen animal, she was confronted with the brutal reality of human cruelty toward the innocent. In that moment, she made a lifelong vow: to protect wildlife and dedicate her life to giving animals a voice.
Marc’s journey into conservation was shaped during his studies in Africa, where he had the extraordinary opportunity to work with Dr. Jane Goodall. Observing chimpanzees in the wild — their intelligence, tenderness, social bonds, and emotional depth — profoundly affected him. Witnessing their close-knit communities revealed the deep interconnectedness of all life and reinforced humanity’s responsibility to protect the natural world.
Dr. Goodall’s dedication to chimpanzee conservation inspired Marc to channel his artistic talents toward safeguarding the planet’s biodiversity. Together with Gillie, and through their autobiographical characters Rabbitwoman and Dogman, he committed to using art as a powerful force for positive change.
These early experiences — marked by awe, heartbreak, and responsibility — became the foundation of Gillie and Marc’s life’s work: transforming love, art, and storytelling into a global call to protect the world’s most vulnerable species.
From Art to Activism
Their passion for conservation found a powerful focus in rhinos. After learning of the tragic death of a black rhino and her calf in an Australian zoo, Gillie and Marc created a memorial sculpture that ignited a lifelong mission to protect rhinos from extinction.
That journey led them to Kenya, where they were privileged to meet the last remaining northern white rhinos — Najin and Fatu, mother and daughter — and, at the time, Sudan, the final male of the species. Standing face to face with these gentle giants was a life-changing experience. Seeing their vulnerability so closely brought home the devastating reality of extinction in a way nothing else could.
Shortly after this visit, Sudan passed away, leaving only Najin and Fatu on Earth.
This deeply personal encounter inspired The Last Three — a monumental 20-foot bronze sculpture unveiled in New York City, created to honour the final northern white rhinos and give them a permanent voice in the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities. When Sudan died just days after the exhibition opened, the sculpture unexpectedly became a global memorial — a place of mourning, reflection, and renewed determination.
For Gillie and Marc, this was a turning point. Since then, they have transformed art into activism — using monumental public sculpture to mobilise petitions, inspire donations, and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for wildlife charities across Africa and Asia. Their work continues to support efforts to preserve Najin and Fatu through advanced conservation science, while also educating millions around the world about the urgent need to protect endangered species before it is too late.
Though the northern white rhino now hangs by a thread, Gillie and Marc remain hopeful. Their mission is clear: to use love, art, and storytelling to give animals a voice — and to remind humanity that we still have time to choose compassion.
As a Gillie and Marc premier gallery, Curate not only exhibits a vast array of Gillie and Marc bronze sculptures and original paintings but we also have access to much, much more.
So, as you browse our current Gillie and Marc exhibitions and you're not finding the "right" piece, please let us know and we'll help you find it.
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