Puppy

Overview

Standing guard at the entrance to the Guggenheim Museum, Puppy is a 12.4-metre-tall West Highland White Terrier sculpture by Jeff Koons, covered in over 70,000 living flowering plants. Originally created for a 1992 exhibition in Germany, it was permanently installed in Bilbao in 1997.

Highlights

• Living Sculpture: The floral coat changes seasonally — pansies, begonias, petunias, and impatiens create shifting patterns of colour.
• Integrated Irrigation: A hidden internal system waters the 70,000+ plants automatically.
• Night Views: Dramatically lit after dark against the Guggenheim's titanium backdrop.

History

Koons first exhibited Puppy outside a Baroque castle in Bad Arolsen, Germany, in 1992. The Guggenheim commissioned a permanent stainless-steel version for Bilbao, which was installed for the museum's opening in 1997. It has become one of the city's most beloved symbols.

Visitor Tips

• Visit in spring or early summer when the flowers are at their most vibrant.
• Free to see — it's in the public plaza outside the museum.
• Duration: 10–15 minutes.