The controversial "Roaring Lion Spirit" sculpture by Richard Orlinski, which has dominated Nice's Garibaldi Square since 2023, is set to be removed by November 30, marking the end of a two-year saga that has embroiled the artist, the city of Nice, and its mayor in corruption allegations and public disputes.
The bronze lion sculpture was the last remaining piece from a citywide exhibition that took place in 2023, featuring ten large-scale sculptures scattered throughout Nice. The exhibition, which ran from June 8 to October 31, 2023, included four gorillas, two bears, a horse, a tyrannosaur, a crocodile, and the now-infamous lion. The sculpture will be replaced by another artwork, though details about its replacement have not been disclosed.
Orlinski, a former real estate agent turned sculptor, had simultaneously mounted two major exhibitions in 2023 – one in Paris and another in Nice. While the sculptures were loaned free of charge to the city, the installation and removal costs reached nearly 100,000 euros, with an additional 30,000 euros spent on transferring two bear sculptures to the ski resorts of Auron and Isola 2000, both part of the Nice metropolitan area. These expenses drew criticism from residents and opposition politicians who questioned the use of public funds.
Public reception of the exhibition was mixed from the start. A survey conducted by the local newspaper Nice-Matin revealed that 53% of approximately 200 residents interviewed were dissatisfied with the sculptures. The controversy escalated on the night of June 15-16, 2023, when an environmental activist vandalized two of the sculptures. Red paint was found on one of the gorillas located on Quai Rauba-Capéu, while the polar bear was marked with the message "6th extinction." The activist was arrested after being identified through surveillance footage and admitted to the vandalism.
The situation took a more serious turn in March 2024 when the investigative website Mediapart revealed extensive connections between Orlinski and various political figures. The report alleged that the sculptor had given more than 60 gifts to prominent politicians and public figures, including Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice and president of the Nice Metropolis, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, her deputy for sports, former minister Marlène Schiappa, and First Lady Brigitte Macron, among others.
The gifts reportedly ranged in value from around 5,000 euros to as much as 150,000 euros in market value. Orlinski defended himself in the press, claiming that the pieces were replicas without certificates of authenticity. However, this explanation failed to satisfy critics and investigators. An opposition Green Party councilor in Nice filed a complaint for corruption and favoritism against both the mayor and the artist.
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) took charge of the case in September 2024, launching a formal investigation into the allegations. The probe intensified in March 2025 when investigators conducted multiple raids on the Parisian and Nice residences of Mayor Estrosi and his wife, as well as searches at Nice's city hall and metropolitan offices. Orlinski's business premises were also searched as part of the ongoing investigation.
The removal of the lion sculpture represents more than just the end of a temporary art installation – it symbolizes the conclusion of a cultural project that became entangled in France's broader concerns about political corruption and the influence of private interests on public officials. The case has raised questions about the relationship between contemporary artists and political figures, particularly regarding gift-giving practices that may constitute conflicts of interest.
As the November 30 deadline approaches for the sculpture's removal, the investigation into the corruption allegations continues. The outcome of the legal proceedings could have significant implications for both Orlinski's career and Estrosi's political future, while also setting precedents for how French authorities handle cases involving the intersection of art, politics, and potential corruption in public cultural projects.
