Jay and Mary Van Wyk approached me to sculpt an impala, I was intrigued. It’s a subject I had long considered but never attempted — largely because, while the impala is one of Africa’s most graceful and dynamic antelopes, its very abundance has made it an uncommon subject in fine art. Unlike the iconic predators or the rarer plains game, the impala often goes unnoticed despite its elegance.
This commission gave me the perfect reason to finally capture that beauty in bronze. I chose the East African subspecies, distinguished by its larger frame and the impressive lyre-shaped horns that sweep with refined symmetry. Instead of depicting the impala in mid-leap—a natural but fleeting moment — I chose, at Jay and Mary’s request, to sculpt him standing tall and alert.
In that stillness lies the essence of the species: poised, powerful, and eternally aware — a quiet moment before the next leap.
Enjoy this East African Impala.
