Richard Orlinski exhibition in Vernon
- Delphine & Romain Class
- 18 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Until December 31, 2025, the city of Vernon is hosting an open-air installation of three monumental sculptures by Richard Orlinski: a white polar bear, a blue panther, and a red crocodile. This initiative complements the exhibition entitled “Art Deco Animals” at the Blanche Hoschedé-Monet Museum in Vernon, which is dedicated to animal sculpture in the Art Deco style of the 1920s and 1930s.
Layout and Installation
The works of sculptor Richard Orlinski are displayed in public spaces, outside the confines of a gallery — throughout downtown Vernon, along the banks of the Seine, and on the “Seine à Vélo” cycling routes. The polar bear echoes the famous bear by François Pompon, an icon of animal sculpture from the 1920s, creating a link and dialogue between modern and contemporary art. The red crocodile, Orlinski’s very first model created in 2004, symbolizes survival and instinct. The blue panther, meanwhile, embodies feline elegance and a powerful visual presence, expressed through the artist’s distinctive faceted and geometric style.
The red “Crocodile” sculpture is the emblematic work that launched Richard Orlinski’s artistic career. The animal is depicted in a geometric, faceted style, typical of his “Born Wild” series, and its bright red color enhances the symbol of power and vitality. The artist has explained that he is fascinated by the crocodile’s capacity for survival, as it has “endured natural disasters and ice ages.” Within the context of the open-air exhibition in Vernon, this sculpture creates a striking contrast between the wild nature it represents and the urban space in which it stands — embodying both raw instinct and a contemporary aesthetic expression.
The “Panther,” presented in its blue version, is another of Orlinski’s animal totems — a symbol of grace, ferocity, and speed, perfectly aligned with the spirit of his “Born Wild” concept. For the Vernon exhibition, the installation of this panther in a public space highlights the visual power of the creature: its blue hue immediately draws the eye, while its poised stance conveys movement and vigilance. It acts as a call to contemplation while remaining resolutely modern and stylized through the artist’s signature geometric design.
The polar bear displayed in the exhibition pays tribute to François Pompon’s famous bear and to the broader tradition of animal sculpture. As a large-scale outdoor piece, the bear interacts dynamically with its surroundings — capturing natural light, engaging with the landscape of the Seine’s banks, and inviting reflection on the relationship between humans and wild nature within an urban environment. The sculpture’s minimalist design — with its white tone and angular facets — conveys both serenity and strength, asserting a powerful presence in the city’s public space.
Aesthetic and Symbolic Significance
Richard Orlinski works in what could be described as a “pop-animal” vein: stylized animals, often faceted or “fragmented”, in bright, vivid colors that reference popular culture, industrial design, and contemporary art movements. His most famous work is Wild Kong, which gained particular notoriety when a giant 3-meter-high version was installed at the top of the ski slopes in Courchevel.
Orlinski’s sculptures carry multiple layers of interpretation:
Power & Freedom: Animals such as bears, crocodiles, panthers, or gorillas evoke instinct, raw strength, and wild nature. Orlinski explicitly embraces this symbolism.
Accessibility & Public Life: By placing his pop art in public spaces, Orlinski removes the traditional gallery barrier, inviting all passersby to engage in an immediate visual encounter with his works.
Dialogue Between Tradition & Modernity: The polar bear references the animal sculpture tradition of the 1920s (Art Deco), while the geometric shapes and pop-colored finish are distinctly contemporary. Vernon offers a dual journey: an Art Deco safari at the museum, complemented by an urban Orlinski trail throughout the city.
The placement of wild animals in an urban setting prompts reflection on our relationship with nature in cities and the coexistence between humans and animals, creating a dialogue between instinct, aesthetics, and contemporary urban life.
Impact and Reception
This open-air exhibition generates several notable effects for both the public and the city. It highlights Vernon as a vibrant hub for contemporary art in Normandy — perhaps unexpected, yet lively and engaging. The display attracts a wide audience: children, families, art enthusiasts, and casual passersby alike. The urban setting encourages serendipity and discovery, allowing viewers to encounter art in everyday spaces.
The exhibition also reframes the relationship between art and public space: experiencing the sculptures in context — on streets, along the Seine, and in public pathways — alters how people perceive and interact with art. Furthermore, it complements the museum’s Art Deco exhibition, bridging the gap between heritage (animal sculptures from the 1920s–30s) and contemporary creation, thereby enriching the overall understanding of animal-themed art.
In Summary
The “Pop Art Animals” exhibition by Richard Orlinski in Vernon is a striking example of contemporary art designed for a broad audience, presented within the urban space, and creating a dialogue between heritage (Art Deco) and modernity. It offers a strong visual experience that is accessible to all and invites reflection on the city, nature, art, and cultural impact. For both general visitors and more experienced art lovers, the exhibition raises questions about the role of art in the urban environment and its effects on the local territory.
Practical Information
Dates: May 12 to September 30, 2025 (some sources indicate until December 31).
Locations: Downtown Vernon and along the banks of the Seine (27200) — a free, self-guided public route.
Admission: Free, open access at any time.
Suggested Visit: Walk along the Seine to view the sculptures, then visit the Blanche Hoschedé-Monet Museum to explore the Art Deco component of the exhibition.
Richard Orlinski
Born in 1966 in Paris, Richard Orlinski is a French contemporary artist internationally renowned for his monumental and colorful animal sculptures. After studying economics and beginning his career in real estate, he fully devoted himself to art in 2004, the year he created his first iconic work: the Red Crocodile, a symbol of power and survival.
His style, which he calls “Born Wild”, blends pop aesthetics, geometric design, and instinctive emotion. Orlinski draws inspiration from the animal world to depict strength, freedom, and human impulses through modern materials such as resin, bronze, and aluminum. His sculptures, often faceted and vividly colored, are exhibited both in galleries and in public spaces — from the ski slopes of Courchevel to the Champs-Élysées, as well as Miami, Dubai, and most recently Vernon in Normandy.
A committed advocate for the democratization of art, Orlinski seeks to make his work accessible to everyone by taking it out of elitist museums and galleries. Today, Richard Orlinski is one of the most prominent and popular French artists, recognized for successfully combining contemporary art, popular culture, and universal emotion.
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