DOWNTOWN LIVERMORE, CA • OCT 10 - DEC 06, 2026
30 elephants from The Great Elephant Migration are visiting the Bay Area for the first time. Greet them on their journey as they travel the world sharing a message of coexistence.
Livermore Valley Arts and Three Thirty-Three Arts proudly present The Great Elephant Migration – a two-month public art exhibition featuring 30 life-size sculptures of Indian elephants made from dried lantana plants.
From Saturday, October 10th through Sunday, December 6th, The Great Elephant Migration can be experienced in beautiful Downtown Livermore. The exhibit is free and accessible to all.
“Bringing the Great Elephant Migration to California gives our communities a unique opportunity to experience art while connecting with a global message of conservation and coexistence,” said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. “I’m proud to welcome this exhibition to Livermore and look forward to seeing it enjoyed throughout the Tri-Valley and East Bay.”
ABOUT THE GREAT ELEPHANT MIGRATION
From India With Love
Magnificent Indian elephants are migrating across the world to inspire the human race to share space.
Each sculpture is a faithful replica of a real wild elephant, known by name and personality to the people of the Nilgiri Hills in southern India, where elephants and people share one of the world’s most densely populated landscapes.
Created by Indigenous artisans of The Real Elephant Collective - Betta Karumba, Paniya, Kattunayakun and Soliga - the herd carries a simple idea. Across much of India, animals are not seen as threats to be removed, but as fellow lives to be respected.
Visit thegreatelephantmigration.org to learn more about this initiative and see their previous stops.
FAQ’s
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The Livermore Herd arrives as storytellers and symbols of hope for human–wildlife relationships. This is a travelling herd created to bring the Migration’s message of coexistence to new audiences and new landscapes.
The travelling herd is hosted by Livermore Valley Arts and Three Thirty‑Three Arts, with core support from The City of Livermore, Visit Tri‑Valley, and Jean King.
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Yes, the exhibit is an outdoor public art installation that is free and accessible for all to visit! Donations are encouraged and will help support this exhibit as well as other arts programs produced by Livermore Valley Arts and Three Thirty-Three Arts. Visit our GiveButter fundraising site to make a donation of any amount. Thank you!
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The herd will be located in Downtown Livermore at Bankhead Plaza and Stockmen’s Park from October 10 through December 06, 2026.
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Downtown Livermore has over 1,200 free public parking spaces across its main city-owned parking garages, plus additional free spaces at city-owned lots and on the streets.
The Livermore Village Garage near Stockmen’s Park and the ACE Train Parking Garage across from Bankhead Theater both put you a few minutes walking distance from the elephant herds.
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Yes! You are welcome to touch the elephants, but please treat them with care and respect. They are part of an important conservation story. Feel free to take pictures and share your experience on social media, tagging @visualartslva, @333arts_, and @greatelephantmigration.
For everyone’s safety and to protect the installation, please do not climb on, push, or apply excessive force to the elephants. Thank you for helping us preserve this special exhibit for all to enjoy! -
Leashed pets are welcome. Please keep a close watch on your pet so they do not accidentally damage a sculpture.
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Definitely! Groups are encouraged to visit the exhibit. Elephant Guardians are available onsite most days of the exhibit between 10am-4pm to answer questions. We encourage groups to contact us by email to plan your visit, email agiancola@lvpac.org and elaine@333arts.org.
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Elephants can be purchased and commissioned. Each sculpture sold helps restore forests, strengthen Indigenous livelihoods, transform invasive lantana into art and carbon‑storing biochar, and fund coexistence projects worldwide.
Visit: thegreatelephantmigration.org/pages/buy-an-elephant-landing
Since 2024, $1.4 million has been awarded to coexistence projects helping communities live alongside elephants, tigers, crocodiles, lions, buffalo, jaguars and grizzly bears. Purchases from the Livermore herd continue to power global coexistence projects and Indigenous‑led conservation.
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Each sculpture is a replica of a real wild elephant known by name & personality to its creators in the Nilgiri Hills, southern India.
Made by 300 Indigenous artisans of The Real Elephant Collective (Betta Kurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakun and Soliga communities), the herd has been created through a partnership with The Real Elephant Collective, a celebrated sustainable livelihoods enterprise model which is run by the Indigenous communities. The work offers an alternative to labouring in tea and coffee plantations, whilst maintaining traditions; an indigenous way of life and empowering indigenous artisans to stay true to their role as custodians of the forest. Elephant Family USA and The Real Elephant Collective are united in sharing a worldview where animals are fellow lives, not threats. Funds from the sculptures are applied to coexistence projects, worldwide.
Over $2 million has been invested in artisans, making this India’s most celebrated sustainable Indigenous enterprise. Indigenous peoples - 6% of the global population - protect 80% of Earth’s remaining biodiversity.
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Crafted from Lantana camara, an invasive shrub overtaking 40% of India’s forests. The project removes lantana and supports its conversion into biochar, improving soil fertility and sequestering carbon.
To date, 2,625 tons of carbon have been captured, with vast forest restoration planned over five years.
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The Great Elephant Migration is powered by The Matriarchy - a collective of environmentalists, artists, storytellers and philanthropists who carry the herd’s message of coexistence and help guide the migration across continents.
Matriarchs include Cher, Kris Tompkins, Dame Virginia McKenna, Kristin Davis, Diane von Furstenberg, Dodie Kazanjian and Edith McBean.
The exhibition is dedicated to Mark Shand, who devoted his life to protecting the endangered Asian elephant.
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Human–wildlife conflict arises when people and animals compete for space or resources. But the deeper truth is that coexistence with wildlife is influenced by how we relate to nature. The Great Elephant Migration carries a kincentric message - that we belong to a family far larger than our own - not only our fellow humans or our pets, but elephants, sea lions, snowy owls, river otters, wolves, king crabs and millions of other beings who share this planet.
Life is not a pyramid with humans at the top. It is a living web, where every thread is connected to another. Tug one strand and the whole web responds; strengthen one, and many others grow stronger. We are not separate from nature - we are one strand within it.
India is a powerful example of what this looks like in practice. Despite rapid human population growth, India’s wildlife populations are increasing, not declining. This success comes from a combination of Indigenous traditions of coexistence and deep cultural tolerance: anticipating animal movements, respecting and negotiating shared landscapes, and treating wildlife as neighbours rather than intruders.
Make a day or weekend of your trip to Livermore!
Our destination partner, Visit Tri-Valley, has everything you need to plan a memorable visit.
LIVERMORE EXHIBIT HOSTS
The independent 501(c)(3) behind the Bankhead Theater and the Bothwell Arts Center, offering a broad range of arts experiences to the community.
Discover more arts experiences in Livermore
A 501(c)(3) arts organization that specializes in public art programming, community activations, artist mentorship, and arts advocacy.
Learn more about Three Thirty-Three Arts
GET INVOLVED
We invite you to support The Great Elephant Migration Livermore exhibit through donations and volunteer opportunities.
Your donation directly champions the arts, funding Livermore Valley Arts and Three Thirty-Three Arts programming - including this spectacular exhibit. Contributions are processed securely through GiveButter and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Coming soon!
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
The Great Elephant Migration Livermore exhibit is made possible by our generous sponsors, partners, and donors
Jean King • Jean Schuler • Jeff and Loretta Kaskey • Mark & Debra Hudson • Michael Weiner • Vic & Cathleen deOrnelas, in honor and loving memory of Sharon Stevens
WITH SUPPORT FROM
Livermore Commission for the Arts • District 1 Supervisor / David Haubert • Office of District 16 Assemblymember Rececca Bauer-Kahan • Tri-Valley Nonprofit Association • Quest Science Center • Livermore Winegrowers Association • Livermore Valley Chamber / Sherri Souza • Livermore Lion’s Club • Rotary Club of Livermore • Rotary Club of Livermore Valley • Three Valleys Community Foundation • Pedrozzi Scholarship Foundation / Maggie Tufts • Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group / Katie Marcel • I-GATE / Yolanda Fintschenko • Community Advocate Mony Nop