This many-legged friend, happily residing in Seaver South since 2024, is the creation of American sculptor and prolific public artist Tom Otterness.
- Aptly titled “Millipede,” the 25-foot-long bronze sculpture was given to the college by Janet Benton ’79, Pomona College alumna and chair of the Board of Trustees.
- For many years, the shiny arthropod had lived in an outdoor location, requiring regular surface treatment. Benton’s gift was contingent upon the museum finding a suitable, sheltered space on campus.
- A full-scale cardboard mock-up was created by two interns to determine optimal placement before the final move.
- Otterness is known for playful, cartoonish sculptures that often blend humor with social commentary. Our millipede may be an anomaly.
- Public art pieces by Otterness can be found in the New York Subway, the zoo at San Jose, Manhattan’s Battery Park City and cities including Seoul, Toronto and Scheveningen, the Netherlands.