If you’ve wandered through the Meatpacking District recently, you might have encountered a herd of unexpected visitors in the heart of Manhattan. Once a district known for the heavy footsteps of cattle headed to slaughter, and the clatter of Louboutins headed to Pastis, New York City’s Meatpacking District is now home to a very different kind of animal gathering. The cobblestone streets are filled with life-size elephant sculptures, each one part of “The Great Elephant Migration,” an immersive public art installation on view until October 20.
This exhibition features 100 handcrafted sculptures, each modeled after a real, living elephant from the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India. Created by Indigenous artisans using strips of lantana camara—an invasive shrub harmful to local wildlife habitats—the sculptures stretch across a vast 12,000 square feet of plazas and walkways. The majestic elephants’ migration to downtown Manhattan has brought with them intricate beauty and a message of hope and conservation.
Co-organized by the nonprofit Art&Newport and conservation group Elephant Family USA, the installation aims to raise awareness and funds for endangered elephants and wildlife around the world. What makes these sculptures so unique is that they aren’t just static displays; they invite interaction, and visitors are encouraged to touch and feel the detailed craftsmanship. Whether it’s the lifelike resin eyes, wooden tusks, or the individual personality reflected in each piece’s pose and structure, these elephants offer a tactile connection to nature—right in the heart of the city.
Dodie Kazanjian, founder of Art&Newport, explained to the New York Times that the installation mimics “how it is when you’re in India, with the elephants walking through the streets”. And while these weatherproofed sculptures may be motionless, the emotional response they evoke in passersby is anything but still.
Ruth Ganesh, a trustee of Elephant Family USA, highlights the deeper mission: “We’re trying to recreate that feeling of awe, wonder, and connection.” More than just a public art project—it’s about understanding that we can live alongside wildlife rather than apart from it. This theme of coexistence runs through every aspect of the installation. The artists themselves, living near the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, have learned to coexist with elephants daily, adapting their lives around these gentle giants, from the bold and curious elephants to the shy and elusive ones.
The exhibition also showcases the power of sustainability in art. By repurposing the invasive shrub into art, the project not only removes this destructive species but converts it into biochar, a carbon-rich material that improves soil quality. The tour also embraces eco-friendly practices, using solar-powered storage and electric trucks to minimize its carbon footprint.
The installation also features a series of public events designed to engage the community in conservation efforts. Highlights include a blessing of the elephants in Gansevoort Plaza, a conservation-themed panel discussion in Chelsea Market, and a lively parade through the neighborhood. A related art show featuring works about elephants and migration by artist Hadi Falapishi will also open at 82 Gansevoort Street.
After New York, the herd will continue its journey to Miami, the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, and then Los Angeles, leaving a trail of wonder, awareness, and action wherever it goes. Ganesh hopes that this project shows how conservation is “not just about science and data, it’s also about culture. And Indigenous perspectives towards animals in that they were, they are, our relatives.”
The herd is here to tell their story of coexistence; that there is room for all of us on this planet. We hope this exhibition reminds us of the awe we feel when in the company of wild, free animals and inspires us to better share our world with them.
Ruth Ganesh & Shubhra Nayar, The Coexistence Collective
The elephants are for sale, with prices ranging from $8,000 for a five-foot-tall baby elephant to $22,000 for a towering 15-foot tusker. Proceeds are set to benefit 22 conservation organizations worldwide, including the Coexistence Consortium and Indigenous-led groups that work to protect wildlife. The hope is to sell 1,000 elephants during the tour, which would raise $10 million for global conservation efforts. But beyond the financial goal, the exhibition is about cultural preservation—showing how Indigenous craftsmanship can play a role in saving endangered species.
Supported by corporate sponsors and philanthropists like Edith McBean and Sylvie Chantecaille who belong to the project’s Matriarchy, a group of influential women helping to promote it —Cher is also a member—“The Great Elephant Migration” is more than your typical fundraiser. It is an artistic journey that emphasizes the importance of conservation in today’s world, merging traditional science with cultural storytelling. By showcasing the beauty and individuality of each elephant, the exhibition reminds us that conservation is not just about numbers and statistics—it’s about connection, compassion, and coexistence with the natural world.
A stroll through the Meatpacking District helps us remember that these elephants carry with them not just the story of endangered species but the spirit of a world where humans and nature live in harmony.
