Huge hound sculptures made of recycled materials take over Midtown

Over-sized sculptures of dogs have been installed along Broadway in Midtown’s Garment District. Created by artist Will Kurtz, the gigantic public art exhibit “Doggy Bags,” features six sculptures of different breeds of dogs, all made out of recycled single-use materials, like plastic bags. The exhibit, which can be found between 38th and 40th Streets, will be on display through November 20.

The brightly colored sculptures include Maisy, a pug, Stanley, a Bassett hound, Spicy, a chihuahua, Harriet, an English bulldog, Gomer, a bull mastiff, and Daphne, a vizsla. The forms are four times their actual size and constructed with steel armature, recycled plastic bags, and duct tape.

Each work aims to reflect the personality and characteristics of each breed of dog, while also providing commentary about “the absurdity of waste.”

“As we welcome New Yorkers back to the neighborhood, we’re proud to showcase Will Kurtz’s colorful, unique dog sculptures through the Garment District Space for Public Art program,” Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance, said in a press release. “We know these beautiful sculptures – made with all recycled materials – will bring positivity, comfort and joy among visitors, and we encourage all to stop by and enjoy the exhibition this fall.”

“Doggy Bags” is part of the Garment District Alliance’s Art on the Plaza program, which brings art installations to the neighborhood year-round and is part of Arterventions, part of the Department of Transportation’s art program.

Earlier this summer, a separate animal sculpture opened in New York City. Artists Gillie and Marc Schattner designed a giant gorilla for Hudson Yards’ Bella Abzug Park. Titled “King Nyani,” which is the Swahili word for gorilla, it is the world’s largest bronze gorilla sculpture and can fit up to three humans in its hands.

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All photos by Alexandre Ayer/Diversity Pictures for the Garment District Alliance