Dinosaur has landed: Meet the giant pigeon sculpture sitting on the High Line
Iván Argote, Dinosaur, 2024. A High Line Plinth commission. On view October 2024 – Spring 2026. Photo by Timothy Schenck. Courtesy of the High Line.
A giant pigeon sculpture now gazes down upon bustling 10th Avenue. The High Line this week installed Iván Argote’s “Dinosaur” above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street as part of its High Line Plinth program. The 16-foot-tall, hyper-realistic sculpture, cast in aluminum, aims to challenge the typical power dynamic between humans and birds by elevating the pigeon above car-filled streets and High Line visitors. The sculpture will be on view for 18 months.
The towering pigeon sculpture sits atop a 5-foot concrete plinth, creating a monumental 21-foot-tall installation. The plinth is designed to mimic the sidewalks and buildings that pigeons typically call home.
The hand-painted sculpture makes fun of the grandeur of traditional monuments that honor historical figures that often lack the merit deserving of being recognized. Instead, the sculpture chooses to pay tribute to a common yet iconic member of New York City’s wildlife.
“Dinosaur” pays tribute to the city’s evolution, encouraging viewers to confront humans’ constantly evolving relationship with the natural world in this dense, urban landscape.
When pigeons first arrived in the United States in the 1880s, they were kept as pets, used for food, and presented as symbols of beauty and wealth—a stark contrast to how they are thought of today. They were also used as message carriers, and relied upon for their homing skills, an internal navigational mechanism that allowed them to find their way home.
“Dinosaur” is the fourth commission for the Plinth program, an ongoing public art program hosted on the High Line. Previous installations include Simone Leigh’s “Brick House” in 2019, Sam Durant’s “Untitled (drone)” in 2021, and Pamela Rosenkranz’s “Old Tree” in 2023.
Argote is the first Plinth artist from the global south, and the program’s youngest artist yet. His work is heavily inspired by social justice issues and historical processes. Many of his works are influenced by his childhood in Bogotá, where he grew up in a family with a long-running tradition of political and social activism.
High Line Plinth is located at the Spur, a dedicated area for rotating contemporary art commissions. Opened in June 2019, the Spur is the final part of the original elevated rail to be converted into public space. It runs east along West 30th Street and ends above 10th Avenue.
The sculpture was first submitted to Plinth in 2020. During the public comment period, it received a diverse variety of responses from New Yorkers, who expressed both affection and disgust for the large bird, a symbol that is synonymous with the five boroughs.
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