El Gato del Rio, Bronze sculpture near Cali River, Colombia
El Gato del Rio is a bronze sculpture along the bank of the Cali River in Colombia. The figure shows a stylized cat with angular, geometric shapes standing on a pedestal by the riverside promenade.
Hernando Tejada created the work and donated it to the city of Cali during the riverside promenade redesign in 1996. The installation later led to the creation of additional cat sculptures by different Colombian artists in the area.
The name reflects the connection between the city and the river, with cats becoming a recurring theme in public art across Cali. Visitors today see locals gathering here and taking photos with the figure, which has become a landmark along the waterfront promenade.
The sculpture stands freely accessible along the riverbank and can be visited throughout the year. Walkways lead directly to the figure, and regular police patrols provide security in the area.
The bronze was cast at Rafael Franco's workshop in Bogotá, and the workshop roof had to be dismantled so the finished cat could be taken out and shipped to Cali. The sculpture was unveiled on 3 July 1996, the date Cali marks its independence day.
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