Winged Dog

Stephan W. Polaha, Winged Dog, ca. 1975, painted wood, metal, and glass, 17 ⁷⁄₈ x 22 x 10 ¹⁄₂ in. (45.4 x 55.9 x 26.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.77

Artwork Details

Title: Winged Dog
Artist: Stephan W. Polaha
Date: ca. 1975
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
/
Luce Foundation Center
/
3rd Floor
/
25A
Dimensions: 17 ⁷⁄₈ x 22 x 10 ¹⁄₂ in. (45.4 x 55.9 x 26.7 cm.)
Credit Line: Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums: metal
paint
wood
glass
Mediums Description: painted wood, metal, and glass
Classifications: Sculpture
Subjects: Fantasy — animal — dog
Object Number: 1997.124.77
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.77

Artwork Description

Stephan W. Polaha created fanciful creatures that were often an amalgamation of different figures and concepts from his life. In Winged Dog, Polaha added wings to man's best friend. The blank expression and bright red mouth suggest that this spotted canine is a new whimsical breed. Polaha had pet dogs and often included images of dogs in his pieces. He was also a devout Catholic, and Winged Dog could have served as a memorial to a lost pet.