ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw's hot dog sculpture returns to Times Square with patriotic toppings

exhibition · 2026-07-22

In Times Square, New York, artists Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw have introduced their remarkable hot dog sculpture titled Hot Dog: The Second Serving (2026). Spanning 65 feet, the piece features a frankfurter, bun, and mustard, all draped in red, white, and blue bunting, with a golden winged Liberty figure duct-taped at one end, echoing President Donald Trump's proposed arch in Washington, DC. The sculpture releases confetti every day at noon until August 8, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. on July 4, 1776. A pageant on July 22 featured contestants showcasing "American-ness," judged by figures like actor Waris Ahluwalia and comedian Lily Marotta. Anna Starling from the Times Square Alliance described the piece as a playful take on spectacle and patriotism.

Key facts

  • Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw's hot dog sculpture returns to Times Square as Hot Dog: The Second Serving (2026).
  • The 65ft-long sculpture features red, white, and blue bunting and a golden winged figure of Liberty.
  • The Liberty figure matches one on renderings of President Donald Trump's planned triumphal arch in Washington, DC.
  • The sculpture rises daily at noon to shoot confetti into the sky, on view until 8 August.
  • Return is timed to the 250th anniversary of the US founding on 4 July 1776.
  • A pageant on 22 July featured drag contestants judged by Waris Ahluwalia, Lily Marotta, Jean Cooney, and Curtis Sliwa.
  • Winning contestant triggered confetti by hitting a button labeled 'Epstein Files'.
  • Presented by Times Square Arts; first shown in 2024 as Hot Dog in the City.

Entities

Artists

  • Jen Catron
  • Paul Outlaw
  • Waris Ahluwalia
  • Lily Marotta
  • Jean Cooney
  • Curtis Sliwa
  • Anna Starling
  • Abby Lloyd
  • Spike Einbinder
  • Kiki Ball-Change
  • Ellery Neon
  • Kenneth Youngblood
  • Celine Abdallah
  • Relish the Entertainer
  • Peter BD
  • Jordan Coley
  • Claywoman
  • Charles Gaines
  • Joan Jonas
  • Jeffrey Gibson
  • Pamela Council
  • Mel Chin
  • Kehinde Wiley
  • Beth Rudin DeWoody

Institutions

  • Times Square Arts
  • Times Square Alliance
  • Creative Time
  • The Art Newspaper
  • Brooklyn Museum
  • Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD)

Locations

  • Times Square
  • New York
  • United States
  • Washington, DC
  • Broadway and 46th Street
  • New York City
  • Brooklyn

Sources