There is a public art exhibit in midtown titled, A Fancy Animal Carnival. With that name alone, it’s no surprise, I’m super into it.

There are 11 sculptures featured in “A Fancy Animal Carnival” and I’m dying to describe them as the love children of Where the Wild Things Are and rainbow sprinkles.

That’s not exactly what Taiwanese artist Hung Yin was going for. Each sculpture is inspired by a traditional good luck symbol from Taiwan. Thus braving the Midtown crowds to see this outdoor exhibit undoubtedly brings a person good fortune.

And likely a big smile on your face as well. A fat lucky horse, patterned in the exact wall paper I wish I had the balls to cover my bathroom in, with a funny little cat person sitting astride, reading a book? How can you not love this?

That’s Times Square in the distance. All the tourists snapping photos of advertisement billboards, missing out on delightful street art mere blocks away! They go see Madam Tussauds but don’t visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Don’t fall into that trap, my NYC visitor friends!

Street art, bright colors, and whimsy: color me positively tickled by technicolor.

This piece is simply titled “Yellow Ox” but I call him “Charging Bull‘s Artsy-Fartsy Brother”.

“Buffalo and Eagle” here, two animals we love to think of as more all-American as Times Square. Turns out they’re also totally-Taiwanese. This buffalo’s snout may indeed say USA but I love how  these pieces made me consider another culture as I walked the five blocks down Broadway.

The creatures of A Fancy Animal Carnival parade down Broadway from 41st Street to 36th.

Behold! It’s the happiest butt in the world! Belonging to the cutest, roundest dragon you’ve ever seen. Bet you’ve never imagined a dragon with a heart shaped nose before!

“Fortunate Round Dragon” he is, and he faces his less colorful, less happy-assed friend, “Dynamic Round Dragon”.

Dynamic makes my fingers itch to get some sharpies and go to town like he’s an adult coloring book. Don’t worry, I’m not one to graffiti! especially over another artist’s work! The black and white offers a nice contrast to all the color. As well as a mirror to the dirty snow still covering NYC’s streets!

The fanciness continues with camels, a giraffe and an owl. None of which I ever realized were lucky. America is so boring with our rabbit’s feet and four leaf clovers. Thanks to my Fancy Animal Carnival  experiance, I now know to look to Taiwan if I want better luck options!

It ends (or begins, depending on which direction you approach from) with everyone’s favorite: pandas!

Nothing black and white about these bears. Bellies full of iconic Asian imagery even recognizable to a westerner like me. Aren’t they cute? Almost makes me wish a worked in Midtown so I could walk past them and get a jolt of happiness to start each work day.

Hahaha just kidding. No one wants to work in Midtown if they can avoid it! Plus the Carnival is only open through April 15th! Just 3 more weeks to try your luck with this painted enamel menagerie on Broadway (not to be confused with The Glass Menagerie on Broadway!)

It’s worth the trip. And take advantage of the photo op (unlike me!)