A WILD RACE AGAINST Time
Join the Race. Save Wildlife.
For more than three decades, artists Gillie and Marc have transformed public spaces around the world into places of curiosity, connection, and conversation. Their large-scale sculptures have appeared in more than 250 cities, inviting millions of people to engage with art not as spectators, but as participants.
This summer through mid-November, CityCenterDC welcomes A Wild Race Against Time, an immersive public art exhibition that brings the artists’ signature approach to Washington, D.C. Installed throughout CityCenterDC, the exhibition features a collection of 17 monumental sculptures inspired by some of the world’s most endangered animals.
Visitors are encouraged to interact with the works, photograph them, and experience them from every angle, transforming CityCenterDC into an open-air gallery.
At the heart of the exhibition is a question that has guided much of Gillie and Marc’s work: how can art create empathy? By placing wildlife within everyday urban environments, the artists invite audiences to consider their relationship with species that are increasingly under threat. The result is an experience that is playful and accessible, while also carrying a deeper message about conservation, coexistence, and our collective responsibility to the natural world.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Gillie & Marc
For more than thirty years, British-Australian artists Gillie and Marc have used public art to explore connection, compassion, and the shared experiences that unite us. Their work can be found in more than 250 cities around the world and has become recognized for its ability to engage audiences of all ages through humor, storytelling, and participation.
Central to their practice are Rabbitwoman and Dogman, the artists’ iconic hybrid characters who represent acceptance, understanding, and the power of unlikely relationships. Through these recurring figures and their broader body of work, Gillie and Marc encourage audiences to consider themes of diversity, empathy, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
A Wild Race Against Time
While Gillie and Marc’s sculptures are known for their accessibility and sense of joy, conservation has become one of the defining themes of their work. Through public installations, the artists seek to create emotional connections between people and endangered animals, using art as a catalyst for awareness and action.
Many of the animals featured in A Wild Race Against Time face growing threats from habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and human activity. By bringing these species into everyday public spaces, the exhibition invites visitors to consider not only the beauty of wildlife, but also its vulnerability.
For Gillie and Marc, public art is not simply something to observe. It is an opportunity to connect, reflect, and participate in larger conversations about the world around us.
Exploring the Exhibition
Designed as an immersive outdoor experience, A Wild Race Against Time transforms CityCenterDC into a gallery without walls. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will encounter a cast of larger-than-life animals captured in motion, adventure, and play. Each sculpture invites interaction, encouraging guests to become part of the artwork itself.
Whether stopping for a photograph, exploring the installation with family, or simply discovering a new sculpture along the way, visitors are invited to experience public art as part of everyday life.
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Exhibition: A Wild Race Against Time
Artists: Gillie and Marc
Location: CityCenterDC
Dates: June 2026 – Mid-November 2026
Admission: Free and Open to the Public
Join the race. Meet the animals. Experience the art. Help protect the future of wildlife.
Meet the animals. Experience the art.
Help protect the future
of wildlife.
The Hippo and Red Wolf Race on the Bicycle
Hope the hippo and Moonstone the red wolf pedal together, symbolizing collaboration and the collective effort needed to save endangered species.
The Northern White Rhino Races on the Skateboard
A powerful tribute to one of the planet’s most endangered species, balancing hope and urgency in a playful form.
The Chimp and Koala Race on the Vespa
Charlie the chimpanzee and Kai the koala share a Vespa ride, celebrating friendship while highlighting the vulnerability of both species.
The North Atlantic Right Whale Races on a Surfboard
Surfing toward a brighter future, this whale highlights the challenges faced by one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals.
The Giant Panda Races in the Convertible
A giant panda cruises in an open-top convertible, bringing a playful sense of hope to the exhibition’s conservation message.
The Masai Giraffe and Lion Race on the Scooter
Jerry the giraffe and Lee the lion share a scooter, representing coexistence and the interconnectedness of wildlife.
Tandem Riders on a Mission
Rabbitwoman and Dogman lead the exhibition’s journey on a tandem bicycle, guiding endangered animals toward a future of protection, care, and hope.
The Polar Bear Races on Skis
A polar bear speeds forward on skis, symbolizing the urgent race to protect Arctic wildlife threatened by climate change.
The Mountain Gorilla Races on Roller Skates
A mountain gorilla takes an unexpected ride, blending humor and optimism with a message of conservation.
The Amur Leopard and Hairy-Nosed
Wombat Race in the Vespa Sidecar
An unlikely pair races ahead in a Vespa sidecar, drawing attention to some of the world’s rarest and most threatened animals.
The Galápagos Tortoise Races on Roller Skates
A whimsical tortoise on roller skates contrasts the species’ slow nature with the fast-moving need to protect endangered wildlife.
The Javan Rhino Races on the Bicycle
One of the rarest mammals on Earth pedals toward safety, symbolizing perseverance and survival against the odds.
The Octopus Races on Roller Skates
An octopus glides across roller skates, celebrating the wonder of marine life while encouraging protection of ocean ecosystems.
The Bengal Tiger and Sumatran Elephant Race in the Beetle
Two iconic endangered species journey together in a classic Beetle, representing unity and resilience in the face of extinction.
Tapanuli Orangutan Races in the Vespa Sidecar
The critically endangered orangutan takes center stage in a spirited ride that calls attention to the fragility of its future.
The Grevy’s Zebra Races on the Vespa
Riding solo on a Vespa, the Grevy’s zebra embodies determination and the urgent need for conservation action
Art That Inspires Action
At the heart of A Wild Race Against Time is a belief that awareness begins with connection. By bringing endangered animals into everyday public spaces, Gillie and Marc hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the species that share our planet and the challenges they face.
The exhibition supports Love The Last Wildlife, the artists’ global conservation initiative dedicated to protecting endangered species through education, advocacy, and charitable giving. Visitors who feel inspired by the exhibition are encouraged to learn more about the organization and support its mission to help protect wildlife around the world.
Every interaction, photograph, conversation, and contribution helps extend the reach of the exhibition’s message beyond CityCenterDC and into the broader effort to preserve our planet’s most vulnerable species.
Learn more about Love The Last Wildlife and how you can support wildlife conservation.
MEET Gillie & Mark
“Public art belongs to everyone. It should be accessible, welcoming, and inclusive.
By encouraging participation, we transform viewers into active participants in the message.
In many ways, the sculptures become ambassadors for wildlife, creating moments
of joy that can lead to lasting awareness.”— Gillie & MArk
Your work often blends humor, storytelling, and social impact.
Where does a new idea usually begin for you?
For us, every new idea begins with emotion. We have always believed that people protect what they love, so our first question is never “What should we make?” but rather “How can we help people care?” Art has an incredible ability to break down barriers and connect people to ideas that might otherwise feel distant or overwhelming. Many of our ideas come from our own experiences, our travels, and our encounters with wildlife. Gillie’s childhood in Zambia, witnessing both the beauty of animals and the tragedy of poaching, and Marc’s time studying chimpanzees alongside Dr. Jane Goodall, shaped who we are as artists. Those experiences taught us that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have.
Humor and playfulness are also essential. Conservation can be a difficult subject, but we have found
that joy opens hearts. When people smile at a sculpture or laugh at an unexpected scene,
they become more receptive to the deeper message.
Through Rabbitwoman and Dogman and the animals they travel alongside, we try to create stories that are uplifting, hopeful, and ultimately inspiring people to take action.
Many people will encounter these sculptures unexpectedly while shopping, dining, or exploring
the city. What do you hope they take away from that experience?
We hope people leave with a sense of connection.
Most of us rarely come face to face with endangered wildlife, especially in the middle of a busy city.
By placing these animals in public spaces, we are inviting people to share a moment with them—
to sit beside them, take a photograph, or simply pause and look a little closer.
At first, the sculptures are often encountered as something fun and surprising.
But then people begin to notice who these animals are and why they are racing.
They discover that every creature represented in the exhibition is fighting for survival in the real world.
If someone walks away feeling a little more empathy, a little more curiosity, or a little more responsibility toward wildlife, then the artwork has done its job.
We want people to realize that conservation is not something happening somewhere else.
It belongs to all of us.
Your work invites people to touch, climb, sit, and participate.
Why is interaction so important to the way you think about public art?
Interaction is at the heart of everything we do.
Traditional sculpture often asks people to stand back and observe, but we want to remove that distance. We want people to become part of the story. When someone climbs onto a sculpture, sits beside an endangered animal, or rides alongside Rabbitwoman and Dogman,
they are no longer simply looking at art—they are experiencing it.
That physical connection creates an emotional connection.
We have seen it happen thousands of times around the world. A child who sits on a giant panda remembers that experience. A family who takes a photo with a rhino begins talking about conservation. Suddenly the artwork becomes personal.
Public art belongs to everyone. It should be accessible, welcoming, and inclusive.
By encouraging participation, we transform viewers into active participants in the message.
In many ways, the sculptures become ambassadors for wildlife, creating moments
of joy that can lead to lasting awareness.
Conservation has become a defining theme throughout your practice.
How has that mission evolved over the years?
Conservation has always been part of who we are, but it has grown from a personal passion into the central purpose of our work. For Gillie, it began as a child in Africa when she witnessed the devastating effects of poaching firsthand. For Marc, it was seeing the intelligence and emotional depth of chimpanzees while studying with Dr. Jane Goodall. Those experiences stayed with us throughout our lives. A major turning point came when we met the last northern white rhinos. Standing face to face with Najin, Fatu, and Sudan was deeply moving. Shortly afterwards, Sudan passed away, leaving only two northern white rhinos alive on Earth. It was impossible not to feel the urgency of that moment.
Since then, we have dedicated ourselves to using public art as a platform for conservation.
Our sculptures have become larger, more ambitious, and more focused on creating tangible impact. Through exhibitions, fundraising initiatives, petitions, educational programs, and our charity,
the Love The Last Wildlife Fund, we are constantly looking for ways to turn awareness into action.
Our mission today is simple: to give endangered animals a voice and to remind people
that there is still time to protect them.
Movement plays an important role throughout A Wild Race Against Time.
What inspired the idea of a race, and what does it symbolize?
The idea of a race emerged from a very real truth: time is running out for many of these species.
Across the world, animals are facing habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and countless other threats. Every day matters. We wanted to express that urgency in a way that felt hopeful rather than despairing.
The race symbolises both danger and possibility. These animals are racing because their survival depends on it, but they are also racing toward something positive—a future where they are protected, loved, and safe. They are not running away from extinction; they are moving toward hope.
The bicycles, scooters, roller skates, surfboards, and Vespas add an element of fun and imagination, but beneath that playfulness is a serious message. The race belongs to all of us. Humanity is riding alongside these animals, and together we have the opportunity to determine where the journey ends.
Leading the way are Rabbitwoman and Dogman, our eco-warrior alter egos, reminding us that compassion, courage, and collective action can still change the outcome.
What does it mean to bring this exhibition to Washington, D.C.,
a city with a strong connection to wildlife conservation and public education?
Bringing A Wild Race Against Time to Washington, D.C. feels incredibly meaningful.
Washington is a city where ideas become policy, where education shapes future generations,
and where important conversations about our shared future take place. It is also home
to world-renowned institutions dedicated to science, conservation, and public learning.
CityCenterDC sits at the heart of that environment. Millions of people pass through these streets
every year—residents, families, workers, visitors, and people from every corner of the world.
Presenting endangered wildlife in such a visible and dynamic public space allows
us to reach audiences who may never step inside a museum or gallery.
We love the idea that someone might come to CityCenterDC for lunch, shopping, or a meeting
and unexpectedly encounter a giant panda in a convertible or a rhino on a skateboard.
That moment of surprise can become the beginning of a much deeper conversation.
There is also something profoundly symbolic about bringing this exhibition to the nation’s capital.
The race to save wildlife is one of the defining challenges of our time. To place these animals in the centre of a city associated with leadership, decision-making, and civic engagement is a powerful reminder that every individual—and every community—has a role to play in protecting our planet’s most vulnerable species. Above all, we hope the exhibition inspires people to believe that positive change is possible.
The race is not over. There is still time to act, and together we can create a future where wildlife thrives.
