Man with Fish

Man with Fish is a bronze sculpture at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago depicting a man embracing a large fish. Water flows from the fish's mouth into a basin below that features detailed carvings of sea creatures.

The sculpture was installed in 2001 as a gift to the Shedd Aquarium in memory of William N. Sick's wife Stephanie. It was created by German artist Stephan Balkenhol as part of his broader artistic exploration.

The figure captures an everyday person in an extraordinary moment of connection with nature. This reflects a theme the artist explores frequently in his work around the world.

The sculpture sits outside the Shedd Aquarium and is freely viewable from the surrounding area. A QR code near the artwork provides an audio narrative available to visitors with mobile devices.

The sculpture is painted in a way that gives it unexpected liveliness compared to typical bronze works. This painterly approach makes the figure feel more personal and less like a traditional monument.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 2001

Creator: Stephan Balkenhol

Height: 4.9 m

Made from material: bronze

GPS coordinates: 41.86714,-87.61468

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:27