Sitting at the northeast corner of Citygarden Sculpture Park, "Kindly Geppetto" is a bronze sculpture by Tom Otterness that mixes fairy tale charm with a hint of unease.
The artwork shows Geppetto, the well-known carpenter from the Pinocchio story, holding a hammer above the puppet's head. At first, it might look playful or cartoon-like, but the scene feels more complicated the longer you look. Is Geppetto angry, or is he about to bring Pinocchio to life? The puppet gazes up at him with a mix of trust and worry, adding to the tension.
Otterness often uses simple, familiar characters to explore deeper ideas, and this piece is no different. It makes you think about the bond between a maker and what they create - who holds the power, who gets to decide, and how care and control can overlap. It also reflects the original Pinocchio story, with its themes of honesty, identity, and the desire to become real.
Completed in 2001 and placed in Citygarden by the Gateway Foundation, the sculpture stands about eight and a half feet tall. Surrounded by other modern pieces, "Kindly Geppetto" stands out for the story it tells and the emotions it stirs.
[Review 1173 of 2025 - 439 in Missouri - 24726 overall] read more