Nashville Zoo, Tennessee

Matt Hill Projects designed and fabricated fifteen life-size African animals for the elevated boardwalk of Nashville Zoo's Leopard Forest. Created in collaboration with Nashville Zoo and US design firm Gecko Group, the Corten steel collection transforms wildlife storytelling into sculptural form - guiding visitors through the landscape and creating moments of discovery alongside the living habitats.

The commission brought together ten individually posed impalas, giraffes, klipspringers, a De Brazza's monkey and a leopard poised high within a sculptural tree. Together, the works form an immersive procession of animals through Nashville Zoo's African Savanna expansion.

Every sculpture was developed to feel distinct. Scale, posture and orientation were carefully considered so the animals would read as a natural gathering rather than a repeated series. Their faceted geometry captures movement and character without attempting to imitate nature literally.

Corten steel was selected for its strength, permanence and ability to evolve within the landscape. Its weathered surface allows the sculptures to sit naturally among the trees and planting, while their silhouettes remain unmistakable from the elevated visitor boardwalk.

The design development, digital modelling and fabrication took place at the Matt Hill Projects studio in Australia before the completed works were packed and shipped to Tennessee. The team then travelled to Nashville to install the sculptures throughout the exhibit, working closely with Gecko Group and Nashville Zoo to integrate each piece into the visitor journey.

More than a collection of individual objects, Leopard Forest demonstrates how sculpture can become part of a place's architecture, interpretation and storytelling. The finished works create a connection between art, landscape and wildlife - encouraging visitors to pause, look closer and engage more deeply with the animals and their conservation.