Shark Girl is temporarily off view for conservation work and will be back in 2021. Follow the Albright-Knox on Twitter and Instagram for updates on her return.

Shark Girl is the absurd, hilarious, and bittersweet creation of artist Casey Riordan. While Shark Girl might appear sorrowful or lonely, there is also a comic element to this “fish out of water.” In Riordan’s first public sculpture, Shark Girl patiently waits, legs daintily crossed, hands folded, for a companion to join her.

Appearing in nearly all of Riordan’s paintings, drawings, and sculptures, Shark Girl was originally conceived as the artist reflected upon the existential conundrums of life, love, family, and loss. Shark Girl can be seen as Riordan’s diversionary tactic or as her mechanism for confronting the challenges of contemporary life.

Shark Girl’s yearnings and desires for normalcy and acceptance trigger equal parts laughter and empathy. The boulder upon which she sits gives viewers an opportunity to bring the work to life by taking a seat and initiating a friendship—or taking a photo—with this bizarre half-shark, half-girl.

About Casey Riordan

Casey Riordan (American, born 1973) earned her BFA from Ohio University in 1994. Her work can be found in numerous public and private collections, including those of the Cincinnati Art Museum, the University of Cincinnati, and Ohio University. Visit Casey Riordan’s Website