Gerald Heffernon’s whimsical 2017 cast bronze sculpture may not be what it seems.

About the Sculpture

It depicts two animals with “bull” in their names, and prompts us to consider —

Which animal is really in charge? A “bullman” is a hybrid of two animals, and a bulldog is all dog, but one originally bred to control bulls.

In this case, the bull controls the bulldog… or is it the other way around? Is the human body in control here, rather than the bull head?

This reminds us of the familiar reversal in which dogs often seem to control their human owners. The sculptural dilemma is a triangle of competing wills.

The concept of a human body with the head of an animal dates back to antiquity. Think of ancient Egyptian representations of hawk-headed humans – or the Greek Minotaur. Even Picasso produced bull-human drawings. Heffernon believes this imagery is the expression of humans’ wish to acquire the powers only animals possess.

About the Artist

Gerald Heffernon, of Winters, California, calls himself a “conceptual wildlife artist.” His human-animal hybrid sculptures are humorous, often surreal, and provoke curiosity and thought. He likes to have his sculptures and the viewer occupy the same space and be seemingly engaged in the same activities. The juxtaposition of life-like representations of man and animal reflect his droll and eccentric sense of humor.

About this Project

This sculpture was a gift to the City of Walnut Creek from Brian Hirahara of BH Development Company. Brian, a lifelong resident of the city, has been a steadfast supporter of downtown Walnut Creek and the arts, and has served in many capacities in the Diablo Regional Arts Association and the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce. His developments in our city are distinguished by design and site sensitivity and have received awards for their beauty and historic preservation. 

Location: On the corner of 1301 North Main Street and Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA

Image Caption: Gerald Heffernon, Bullman with Bulldog, 2017, cast bronze & paint, photography by Josh Isaacs.