The Great Elephant Migration Arrives in Beverly Hills

The Great Elephant Migration
📍 Beverly Gardens Park, Beverly Hills (Santa Monica Blvd between Rodeo Dr & Rexford Dr)
📅 July 1 – August 1, 2025
🕒 Open daily, 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
🎟️ Admission: Free

Details:

• Outdoor public art exhibition featuring 100 life-sized elephant sculptures

• Handcrafted by Indigenous artisans from India using invasive lantana camara

• Highlights global wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability

• Special “Wrapped in History” ceremonial phase begins July 20

• Farewell celebration: Kiss Them Goodbye on August 1

Family-friendly • ADA accessible • Photo-friendly

A spectacular and meaningful art installation has taken over Beverly Hills this summer. From July 1 through August 1, visitors to Beverly Gardens Park can witness The Great Elephant Migration, a breathtaking public exhibition featuring 100 life-sized Indian elephant sculptures, each handcrafted by Indigenous artisans from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in India.

Stretching along four blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard—from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive—this open-air display transforms the park into a symbolic migratory path. But these aren’t just any sculptures. Each elephant is built from steel frames and covered with dried lantana camara, an invasive plant in India. By using this material, the artists not only showcase their craftsmanship but also highlight issues of environmental imbalance and the need for restoration.

The elephants are modeled after real individuals—mothers, calves, and tuskers—many of whom were rescued from captivity or conflict zones. Their stories are woven into the fabric of the exhibit. One sculpture represents Chaimu, an orphaned elephant from Kenya, while another celebrates Madhubala, an elephant reunited with her family in India after years in isolation. These representations remind us of the emotional and ecological bonds between humans and wildlife.

A unique feature of the installation unfolds beginning July 20, when 70 of the elephants will be ceremonially draped in custom-designed blankets. This phase, called “Wrapped in History,” includes contributions from designers such as Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg, and Native American artisans. Each blanket adds a layer of storytelling—one of cultural heritage, reverence, and shared stewardship.

The exhibition will close with a heartfelt farewell on August 1 during a public event titled “Kiss Them Goodbye.” This gathering celebrates the journey of the herd while underscoring the broader message of wildlife coexistence, habitat protection, and cross-cultural collaboration.

The Great Elephant Migration is more than an art show—it’s a global call to action. It amplifies the voices of conservationists, supports numerous wildlife NGOs, and bridges traditions across continents. It also encourages reflection on how art can serve as a vehicle for change, both social and environmental.

Open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM, the exhibit is free to the public and family-friendly. The path is ADA-compliant and accessible to all. Whether you’re a longtime local or a first-time visitor, the elephants are waiting—silent, majestic, and unforgettable.

 

These are some stunning glimpses of The Great Elephant Migration exhibition—majestic life-sized elephant sculptures woven from invasive lantana camara:

• The intricate detailing of each elephant’s form, from their statuesque legs to their gentle trunks, highlights the skill of the artisans.

• In Beverly Hills, these sculptures line the four blocks of Beverly Gardens Park, offering an enchanting, immersive walk-through experience.

• Arranged in close-knit groups—calves beside matriarchs, tuskers guarding the herd—they evoke the natural bonds of elephant societies.