Explore our Downtown is Pawsome exhibit and experience a collection of 15+ whimsical sculptures based on Albany's most iconic dog — Nipper. Completed by local artists, these three-dimensional canines were designed to reflect the culture, community, and history of downtown Albany.

 

Enjoy a self-guided tour and make sure to snap a photo! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook, and we'll reshare your picture.

Nipper Sculptures in Downtown Albany:

  1. ”Bark” by Mitchell Biernacki (@daydreamhuntr) | Sponsored by Jim & Lena Hart I SUNY Plaza, 353 Broadway 
  2. “Tail of the City” by Lexi Hannah (@lexihannah.art) | Sponsored by Fort Orange General Store I Fort Orange General Store, 412 Broadway
  3. “Taking a Pawse in 1728” by Wendy Allen (@tartanandlace) | Sponsored by ParkAlbany I Awaiting my home. Check back soon!
  4. “Echo” by Stella Kibler (art_by_stellarae) | Sponsored by Downtown Albany BID I Pommer Building I 153 S Pearl St
  5. “Lil’ Nips” by Benj Gleeksman (www.mistergleeksman.com) | Sponsored by Albany Convention Center Authority I Albany Capital Center, 55 Eagle St
  6. “N1PP3R” by Aaron Northrup (The Custom Curiosities Company LLC) | Sponsored by Pioneer I Currently at the groomers!
  7. “Joseph” by Chrissy Mabee (@unorthodox.visuals) | Sponsored by Downtown Albany BID I Currently at the groomers!
  8. “See Through” by Kymberli Gaillard (@kymberli_gaillard) | Sponsored by Downtown Albany BID I Olde English Dog Park I 119 N Pearl St
  9. "Capital Canines" by Mitchell Biernacki | The Olde English Pub & Pantry 683 Broadway 
  10. "Patriotic Nipper" by Tamara DeMartino | Inside 66 State Street year round
  11. "Cleeo of Clee Park" by First Church in Albany | inside First Church of Albany, 110 N Pearl Street (Inside First Church year round)
  12. "Happy Puppy" by Hazal Ozturk |  Inside Albany City Hall rotunda year-round
  13. "Industrial Anthropology" by Stephanie Levay | Outside Quackenbush Garage, 25 Orange Street 
  14. "Awaken" by Stacey Healey | Inside Quackenbush Garage, 25 Orange Street 
  15. "Up Above!" by Kimberly Schaller | Outside Renaissance Albany Hotel, 144 State Street 
  16. "Bloomie" by Liz Zunon | Riverfront Garage at Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge 
  17. "Interconnected" by Cara Hanley I Precision Fitness at 374 Broadway 

View of Google map of the current sculpture locations and other public art projects here. 

 

Nipper's Significance in Albany

Across the city's storied history, Nipper ranks top dog. The twenty-eight-foot-tall, four-ton canine statue is anchored atop a warehouse on North Broadway, capturing the attention of young and old alike for three generations.

 

Nipper was a real-life dog in nineteenth-century England immortalized in a painting by Francis Barraud. He depicted the dog listening to a gramophone and titled it “His Master’s Voice.” The artwork eventually became an internationally recognized logo for RCA.

 

Nipper was installed at 991 Broadway in 1958 for RTA, an appliance distributor specializing in RCA products. The sculpture was shipped by rail in five sections from Chicago and attached to the roof with the assistance of a ten-story crane.

 

Today, Nipper is ingrained in Albany's culture, with many hats, T-shirts, and more, featuring his image.

 

ABOUT DOWNTOWN IS PAWSOME

The BID initially launched 20 Downtown is Pawsome sculptures in the summer of 2017. The Nipper design resonated strongly with both artists and the public, resulting in nearly 90 applications for the project's open call for artists. The sculptures quickly gained popularity as local attractions and selfie spots for residents and visitors alike, prompting the commissioning of another round of Nippers in 2019. The 2025 call for artists resulted in 130 applications, a record-breaking number, further cementing the importance of this exhibit in our community.

 

Notable recipients of the statues include RCA Records, City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, and the family of the late Harris Sanders, the Capital Region architect who introduced the iconic Nipper to the Albany skyline in the Warehouse District more than 60 years ago.