If you’ve driven around in Venice, you might’ve seen that massive 30-foot sculpture known colloquially as the Ballerina Clown. Well, fans can rest easy. Despite the upcoming closure of the CVS pharmacy beneath, the now iconic artwork and Los Angeles landmark will remain perched above the corner of Main Street and Rose Avenue.
Also known as the Ballerina Clown CVS and the Venice Clownerina, the sculpture is actually a permanent installation belonging to the building itself, ensuring its survival past the departure of the retail tenant.
According to the lore, the sculpture was originally designed as a kinetic installation featuring an animatronic leg that actively kicked. However, the moving mechanism proved too loud for the surrounding residents. Following noise complaints, the motorized kicking was halted almost immediately. The ballerina’s leg has now stood still for 25 years.
Created by artist Jonathan Borofsky, the piece is constructed from aluminum, steel, and painted fiberglass. It combines the head of a street-performing clown with the tutu-clad body of a classically trained ballerina. Borofsky believed that anyone who has walked the nearby Venice boardwalk on a Sunday afternoon would immediately understand why the statue is right at home, and if you know, you know.
The CVS underneath officially closes on July 1, 2026. It’s unclear what business will replace it, but we’re glad to hear that our beloved Ballerina Clown isn’t going anywhere.
Oddly enough, this isn’t the only strange building CVS has resided in around Los Angeles. Over on the east side is the Gothic CVS, where the pharmacy occupies a Churrigueresque 1920s movie palace.
