Drivers on one of Johannesburg’s busiest highways might be doing a double-take.
Amid the blur of traffic and concrete, something unusual has appeared, a striking piece of Johannesburg highway art that turns a gruelling commute, often marked by hooting and brake lights, into a moment of appreciation. It’s the kind of sight that makes you slow down (mentally, at least), look twice, and maybe even smile.
But what exactly are Joburg drivers spotting as they weave through Gillooly’s Interchange?
Johannesburg highway art: New Wildlife on busy Gillooly’s Interchange
Gillooly’s, the interchange that meets in a tangle of tar and traffic, has become home to new wildlife. It catches your eye, but the closer you get, the more there is to notice. The only difference – these creatures can’t run into oncoming traffic.
The artwork features five zebras and around 80 flying egrets, all sculpted from steel.
Johannesburg artist James Delaney is behind the new installation, created as part of Jozi My Jozi’s project to uplift the OR Tambo corridor, one of the city’s major gateways.
“I was a bit floored initially,” Delaney says. “The airport highways have so much visual noise – billboards, factories, traffic – it’s hard to have an impact against that backdrop.”
But he found a spot to make an impact. After months of collaboration with SANRAL, Moja Nation Exchange, and sponsor Investec, Delaney transformed the interchange into an unexpected wildlife scene, one bringing Johannesburg highway art to life in a striking new way.
How the vision came together
Delaney explains that the brief was wide open, but that he chose the zebra because of Investec. He says they chose Gilloolys because no billboards compete for attention. In the centre, it has a surprisingly lovely green field.
To get this Johannesburg highway art installation right, he observed real zebras and egrets in the wild to capture their proportions and formations.
“We did many renders and drove around the highways repeatedly to assess the best lines of sight. Cars approach from several directions, so the placement had to work from every angle. I hope they lift people’s spirits and help them feel a connection to nature,” he says.
What’s next
Known for transforming The Wilds, Delaney is now working on a kudu family for Oxford Road in Rosebank and new gates in Killarney Park that tell the area’s history.
He also has a virtual forest installation at Indwe Park in Braamfontein. Delaney also has a studio at Victoria Yards, where he showcases sculptures, paintings and prints.
