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A fisherman, a fish, and a kiss: There’s quite a story behind Big Catch, Richard Beyer’s provocative sculpture in Big Catch Plaza. This unassuming plot of land at the corner of Marine View Drive and Seventh Avenue in Des Moines, Washington, features a curious statue of a man embracing a rather voluptuous fish with some...human features.

According to the artist, the piece depicts a maiden transformed into a fish, awaiting a kiss from her fisherman boyfriend to turn her human again. The twist? Beyer invented the fairy tale himself to quiet the controversy surrounding his creation. His true inspiration remains a mystery. Stop by for a closer look and draw your own conclusions about this unusual piece of public art.

About the Artist

Richard S. Beyer (1925–2012) was a self-taught sculptor who created more than 90 large public sculptures over nearly four decades. Best known locally for Waiting for the Interurban in Fremont, Beyer used expressive human and animal figures to tell stories rooted in the communities where his work appeared. His approachable style paired humor with a willingness to challenge assumptions, poking fun at human pretensions while celebrating everyday interactions. His sculptures can be found primarily throughout Washington and Oregon, with additional works elsewhere in the United States and overseas.

Learn more about The Big Catch sculpture.