Entry No. 30 — the New York City file — filed under: roadside-oddity
Spot (the Dalmatian and Taxi)
A four-story fiberglass Dalmatian balances a real, motor-stripped yellow-cab Prius on the tip of its nose outside NYU Langone's children's hospital. Artist Donald Lipski built the dog in a Wisconsin factory and trucked it to Manhattan; the donated Toyota was gutted to a shell. The cab is wired so its headlights illuminate the dog after dark and its wipers swipe when it rains.
The story
Most public art at major medical centers aims for soothing pastel tones. Sculptor Donald Lipski took a sharper turn for the entrance of NYU Langone's Hassenfeld Children's Hospital on East 34th Street, erecting a 38-foot-tall fiberglass Dalmatian named Spot balancing an actual NYC yellow cab on the tip of her nose.
Lipski fabricated the giant dog at a factory in Wisconsin before trucking it east to Manhattan. To keep 38 feet of fiberglass from collapsing under top-heavy weight, Toyota donated a real Prius taxi chassis that was stripped to the bone—engine, transmission, and heavy mechanical guts removed. Lipski then wired the shell's electronics: when night falls, the cab's headlights switch on to light up the dog's white chest, and a moisture sensor triggers the windshield wipers whenever rain hits the glass.
What it's like
Spot stands right on the sidewalk at 34th Street near 1st Avenue, right beside the hospital's drop-off loop. Because it is an outdoor public sculpture, there are no tickets, barriers, or hours to worry about—you can walk right up to the dog's paws anytime. Aim for dusk when the streetlights kick in, so you can watch the cab's headlights flick on high above the sidewalk traffic.
The move: Swing by after dinner to catch the headlights flick on and dare each other to figure out how a dog balances a taxi on its snout.
📍 Before you go Outdoors at a working hospital entrance; viewable anytime from the sidewalk. The rain-activated wipers and night lighting are the best surprises.
- 📍 Kips Bay, Manhattan
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Hassenfeld Children's Hospital, NYU Langone, 34th St near 1st Ave, New York, NY
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- John M. Mossman Lock Collection — Walk under a mile west into Midtown to trade a four-story roadside sculpture for a quiet second-floor room containing over 500 intricate bank locks.
- Renwick Smallpox Hospital Ruin — Head toward the East River and cross to Roosevelt Island to pair a whimsical modern hospital sculpture with the ivy-covered stone ruins of a 19th-century isolation hospital.
- Patent Pending — Walk west to NoMad after dark to swap the illuminated headlights on 34th Street for a Tesla-themed speakeasy hidden behind an espresso bar menu board.
Good to know
Is the taxi on the dog's nose real?
Yes. It is a real Toyota Prius donated by the company, though the engine, transmission, and heavy mechanical parts were gutted to make it a lightweight shell.
How tall is Spot?
Spot stands 38 feet tall, or roughly four stories high.
Do any parts of the car actually work?
Yes. The car is wired into an electrical line so its headlights illuminate the dog's front after dark, and rain sensors activate the windshield wipers during storms.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: nyulangone.org · Time Out · donaldlipski.net · Roadside America · walkingoffthebigapple.com
last checked: 2026-06-23