Venice Debuts Floating Statues of Bezos and Sánchez Ahead of $10M Wedding
Let’s cut to the chase: Venice just became ground zero for an avant-garde art stunt that’s got tourists and pigeons equally mesmerized. Professional tip: never underestimate the power of oversized celebrity sculptures drifting through ancient canals.
Artisans masquerading as Amazon workers quietly installed two 6-foot-tall mannequins replicating Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez at prime tourist spots across St. Mark’s Square this week, mere days before the couple’s highly anticipated nuptials. According to eyewitnesses reported by TMZ, the lifelike statue of the Amazon founder towered over his actual 5’7″ frame, complete with a mock-muscular build and dollar bills plastered across its chest featuring his own face. Meanwhile, Sánchez’s mannequin, seated elegantly on a gondola alongside her groom-to-be, wore a chic white ensemble that nodded to bridal couture trends—but with a playful twist.
The floating exhibit quickly drew crowds snapping selfies under Venetian afternoon light. A spokesperson for a local tourism board told People Magazine that the guerrilla art piece injected “a fresh buzz” into a city already swarming with summer visitors. More than just a photo op, the installation carries subtle commentary: the faux Bezos held a blood-splattered “Just Married” placard—an ironic nod to the rumored $10 million price tag of the real ceremony, which insiders peg at approximately $50,000 per guest.
Reports from Reuters confirm that a team of four sculptors engineered the statues over two weeks in a suburban workshop before shipping them to Italy under sealed crates labeled “Fragile: Modern Art.” BuzzFeed News corroborates that local authorities initially hesitated to remove the figures, wary of drawing negative headlines just ahead of one of the season’s most exclusive social events.
Even the local wildlife got in on the action—dozens of pigeons swarmed the Bezos mannequin, mistaking the dollar-bill decoration for nesting material. One amused gondolier filmed the feathered frenzy for his Instagram, captioning it “Bezos Bank Flies.” Meanwhile, high-end fashion watchers noted Sánchez’s silhouette echoed her pre-wedding look book, suggesting the sculpture was more than parody—it was a teaser for her couture moment at the actual altar.
With the real wedding slated for later this week at a secret Venetian palazzo, the city expects to host an A-list roster that includes tech heavyweights, Hollywood elites, and global philanthropists. Security will be tighter than the gloved grip of those statues’ sculptors. And yes, the couple’s actual vows are sure to make headlines—assuming no one erects a third mannequin capturing the bouquet toss.
And there you have it. Take that for what it’s worth.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TGIMZ, People Magazine, Reuters, BuzzFeed News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
