Giraffes

You are standing in the vicinity of a striking piece of public art known as The Giraffes. These two monumental sculptures, representing a mother and her calf, serve as a modern gateway to the coastal landscape near the Great Highway and Sloat Boulevard. Crafted by artist Martin Taylor, the figures rise sixteen and eight feet into the air. They are constructed from a combination of rusted mild steel and stainless steel mesh, creating a textured surface that catches the coastal light. At night, dichroic-filtered LEDs illuminate the forms, turning them into glowing beacons against the dark horizon of the Pacific Ocean. The design relies on geometric facets and an origami-inspired aesthetic, reflecting a contemporary approach to sculpture. Their presence here acts as a symbolic bridge to the nearby San Francisco Zoo, acknowledging the city's connection to wildlife conservation. The sculptures provide a point of pause for travelers along this busy transit corridor, grounding the expansive, shifting scenery of the beach with a permanent, monumental sense of familial warmth.