New York City’s Central Park is no stranger to dogs, but the newest pack to arrive in the park isn’t exactly the kind you’ll see chasing a tennis ball.
A group of 12 larger-than-life dog sculptures has taken up residence at Central Park’s Doris C. Freedman Plaza. Made from bronze, stone, steel, and concrete, the pups are standing, sitting, stretching, and commanding attention without even wagging a tail.
The outdoor installation, Camille Henrot: Dogs, is the first public exhibition in New York City by Paris-born, New York-based artist Camille Henrot.
On view through August 29, 2027, the exhibition builds on the artist’s existing series of canine sculptures, exploring themes of attachment, dependency, domestication, and loyalty through the animal that has long been considered man’s best friend.
These aren’t your average Central Park pups
Henrot’s sculptures are inspired by a surprisingly wide range of references, from Saul Steinberg drawings and Tex Avery cartoons to ancient Egyptian sculpture and dog show competitions.
Each sculpture has its own distinct look and personality, making the installation feel more like a gathering of eccentric canine characters than one uniform collection of statues. Melanie Kress, senior curator at the Public Art Fund, said in a statement:
Each of Henrot’s sculptures has its own unique presence, mirroring the many shapes, sizes, and temperaments of the canine companions she encounters throughout her Upper West Side neighborhood.
The artist’s interest in dogs goes beyond their instantly recognizable shapes, too.
Henrot uses the animals to explore ideas around attachment, dependency, domestication, and loyalty—all qualities that have made dogs such closely connected companions to humans.
At the same time, the exhibition is meant to celebrate the craft and variety of sculpture itself, with the different materials giving each canine a distinct physical presence.
The sculptures have been reimagined for Central Park
The Central Park installation builds on an existing series of dog sculptures by Henrot, bringing earlier ideas into a new outdoor setting while adding new works made for the environment.
Henrot has spent the past two decades working across sculpture, painting, drawing, film, and installation. She’s perhaps best known internationally for her 2013 film Grosse Fatigue, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale.
Her work can also be found in collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and the Centre Pompidou.
Where to see the dog sculptures in Central Park
You can find Camille Henrot: Dogs at Doris C. Freedman Plaza, at 60th Street and Fifth Avenue, right at the southeastern entrance to Central Park. The plaza is one of Public Art Fund’s longstanding outdoor exhibition spaces and has hosted rotating public art installations since the 1970s.
The exhibition is free and open to the public, and the plaza itself is open daily from 6 am to 1 am.
The closest subway stations are 5th Avenue on the N, R, and W trains and 59th Street/Lexington Avenue on the 4, 5, and 6 trains.
And yes, you can visit with your actual dog, too—the Public Art Fund says pets are allowed in the area as long as they’re leashed from 9 am to 9 pm.
So if you’re already heading into Central Park for a walk, a little people watching, or your daily attempt to touch grass, you might as well add some very still dog watching to the itinerary.
Details at a Glance
- What: Camille Henrot: Dogs
- Where: Doris C. Freedman Plaza — 60th Street & Fifth Avenue
- When: On view through August 29, 2027 | Plaza open daily 6 am–1 am
- Access: Free & open to the public