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El Gato del Río

El Gato del Río is a bronze sculpture by Colombian artist Hernando Tejada, inaugurated on July 3, 1996, on the side of the Cali River in Cali, Colombia. It was donated to the city as part of a plan to beautify the riverbanks on the north side of the city. The sculpture was made in the studio of Rafael Franco in Bogotá and later transported to Cali. Over time, it became one of the city’s best-known landmarks. The area around it has since developed into Parque El Gato de Tejada, where more cat sculptures by different artists have been added.

El Gato del Río cat sculpture on a stone pedestal in a park, with a small bird perched on its curled tail.
El Gato del Río sculpture in a park setting, showing the cat with a bird perched on its tail.
© · Public domain
El Gato del Río cat sculpture with round eyes and a spiraling tail, surrounded by visitors outdoors.
El Gato del Río stands outdoors while visitors gather around the sculpture.
September 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weathered bronze plaque mounted on a textured light gray wall, with engraved Spanish text and names.
A patinated bronze plaque mounted on a wall, associated with El Gato del Río in Cali.
September 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Green commemorative plaque with raised metal lettering mounted on a textured wall.
A commemorative plaque mounted on a wall at El Gato del Río.
January 2020 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
El Gato del Río depicted as a dark cartoon cat with yellow eyes and swirling whiskers, sitting on blue and white clouds.
El Gato del Río shown in a colorful painting with clouds in the foreground.
March 2012 © · CC BY 3.0

Identification

TitleEl Gato del Río
English titleThe River Cat
TypeSculpture / monument

Historical context

Inauguration dateJuly 3, 1996
Commemorative date significanceThe inauguration took place on Cali's independence day

Creator

ArtistHernando Tejada
Artist's professionPainter and sculptor

Discovery and provenance

DonorHernando Tejada donated the sculpture to the city of Cali, Colombia
Foundry or workshopRafael Franco's workshop in Bogotá, Colombia
Casting locationBogotá, Colombia
Transportation noteTo transport it to Cali, the workshop roof had to be dismantled
Project contextA 1996 beautification and recovery plan for the banks of the Cali River on the city's north side

Physical characteristics

ScaleLarge-scale

Materials

MaterialBronze

Location and ownership

Alternative park nameCat Park
SettingA site of high commercial activity and nighttime leisure
Park nameParque El Gato De Tejada
Current locationOn the bank of the Cali River at Avenida del Río and Calle 4° Oeste, in the Normandía sector of Cali, Colombia

History and restoration

Landmark statusIt has become one of Cali's most emblematic monuments
Associated city landmarksSebastián de Belalcázar statue and Cristo Rey Monument
Nearby area developmentThe area around the sculpture became a park with cat sculptures by several artists
Additional sculptures projectIn 2006, the city planned to add 15 new cat sculptures near El Gato del Río
Associated project nameLas novias del gato
Associated project characteristicsThe complementary sculptures shared the same structural base but were painted and decorated by different Colombian visual artists
Artists involvedMaripaz Jaramillo, Roberto Molano, Diego Pombo, Cecilia Coronel, Pedro Alcántara, and Omar Rayo
Current statusMore than 15 cat sculptures have been exhibited, and some have been distributed throughout the city
Recovery initiative dateOctober 2006
Recovery initiative organizerCali Chamber of Commerce
Recovery initiative scopeRecovery of the monument and its surroundings

Appearance

Plaque text"El gato del río / Escultura en bronce elaborada por el maestro / Hernando Tejada / Bajo el auspicio del gobernador / del Valle del Cauca / Germán Villegas Villegas / y el alcalde de Santiago de Cali / Mauricio Guzmán Cuevas / Santiago de Cali Julio 3 de 1996"