Tampa, FL

Mythological Guardians
Sculpture: concrete, metallic finish

In Mythological Guardians, artist Dolios reimagines the traditional imperial guardian lions of Eastern architecture as mutated Floridian protectors. His two-headed alligator stands proudly as both a tongue-in-cheek mascot and a fierce spiritual sentinel, reflecting Florida’s unique mythos of mutation, folklore, and swamp resilience. Equal parts regal and ridiculous, the sculpture guards the imagination with wild-eyed vigilance.

Bio—
Dolios graduated from the Royal College of Art in London, UK, with an MA in Contemporary Art Practice in 2005. Shortly thereafter, he pursued a career in sumo wrestling at Futagoyama Beya in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, under the leadership of Ozeki Miyabiyama. His career was cut short by a knee injury, which led to his early retirement. Arnold then returned to the United States to refocus on his world-class sculpture practice.

Dolios is a world-renowned naturalist, credited with many significant discoveries, including the only known example of a two-headed alligator—an individual that survived into adulthood after a failed separation of monozygotic twins. His photograph of this remarkable creature garnered worldwide attention after appearing on the cover of the Tampa Bay Times. He is also a respected collector of Yorkshire Terrier cigarette cards, as well as tea, jelly, and jam cards. Furthermore, Dolios is the only living relative of Hermes Trismegistus, the thrice-great Hermes.