Las Orcas (The Killer Whales), Octavio Gonzalez Gutierrez

Las Orcas, Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta

Together with Ramiz Barquet, Octavio Gonzalez is one of the prolific Vallarta sculptors. The best known is the Vallarta Whale, but close by you’ll find the Orcas, beautiful whales that visit the Banderas Bay regularly.

One of the lesser-known sculptures in Vallarta, because it isn’t as well located as his other works on the Malecon or at the entrance of Marina Vallarta.

The sculpture depicts one of Octavio Gonzalez’s favorite subjects, sea life, in this case, a group of 4 orcas or killer whales swimming in the ocean.

Where is the sculpture?

The sculpture is found in front of the Velas Vallarta hotel in the Marina area. It is well placed in a lovely lush garden that very much follows the style of the hotel itself, green jungle-like vegetation. One of the special aspects of the sculpture is the fountain that actually gives it a life of its own.

About the artist

Octavio González Gutiérrez

Octavio González Gutiérrez is a Mexican sculptor best known for his Vallarta whale. He was born in Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco. Started off in the arts drawing portraits and his first sculpting jobs were busts. He learned his foundry techniques in Santa Barbara and Berkeley and opened his first workshop in Puerto Vallarta. The famous singer Vicente Fernández is one of his biggest fans and has bought many of his pieces. He has sculptures all over Mexico (La Paz, Cancún, Ciudad de México, and more) and some in the USA (Chicago & Seattle).

Octavio Gonzalez Gutierrez participated in the sculpting of the Friendship Fountain on the Malecon, the Vallarta Whale and more than 60 other bronze sculptures in Vallarta and other cities around the country and internationally. He has lived most of his life in Puerto Vallarta and is a very simple man, who started sculpting as a hobby and has no formal studies in art, he’s so humble that he doesn’t even sign his sculptures.