Gorilla Troupe

Gorilla Troupe

Gorilla Croquis (Sketches)

I had the gift of studying John the silverback and his troupe intensively from life in the 1990’s, experiencing life changing moments observing and engaging with them at the Philadelphia Zoo. I studied them up to the last night of their lives on Christmas Eve 1995 when they were claimed in a tragic electrical fire that took the lives of 23 primates. The following sketches were the only reference I used to create “Mask”, “John” and “John Maquette.”

Troupe Study

John Leans

Samantha Leans

Live study from 1993-1995

Height: 14″

Width: 12″

Gorilla Troupe: SOLD