
Fordham University and Cavalier Galleries have joined forces to bring Bjørn Okholm Skaarup’s iconic Hippo Ballerina to the university’s Lincoln Center sculpture garden.
The statue, which stands 15 feet tall and weighs 2.5 tons, depicts a bronze hippo sporting a copper tutu. Onlookers can enjoy a total of 11 sculptures featured in The Magic Sculpture Exhibition.
“Fordham’s sculpture garden at our Lincoln Center campus is a hidden oasis in the cultural heart of the city,” said University President Tania Tetlow. “We are delighted to have 11 more sculptures on loan, thanks to the generosity of Fordham Trustee Kim B. Bepler, and invite the public to enjoy a self-guided tour through our beautiful plaza.”
Hippo Ballerina was inspired by Degas’ Little Dancer Aged Fourteen and the dancing hippos in Disney’s Fantasia.

Of the 11 pieces featured in the sculpture garden, additional works from Skaarup on display include: The Frog, The Majestic Lion, The Giraffe, and The Ostrich. Each piece touches upon stories or allegories from ancient fables, art history, music and so on. “Bjørn Skaarup’s sculptures invite us to see the familiar in extraordinary ways,” echoed Ron Cavalier, President of Cavalier Galleries.
Skaarup’s sculptures will be joined by works from artists Jim Rennert, Bruno Lucchesi and Jane DeDecker.
The Magis Sculpture Exhibition is open Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. to the public. QR codes can be found at each sculpture for more information about the piece and the artist.
Hippo Ballerina has formerly graced NYC in Pershing Square Plaza West, Dante Park, the Flatiron South Public Plaza, and the Girl Scouts of America Building.
📍 113 West 60th Street, New York