NANUQSAURUS | SCULPTURE

"Northern Tyrant King" showcases Alaska's very own cousin of the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex, known as Nanuqsaurus. Discovered on Alaska's North Slope around 2014, Nanuqsaurus was initially described as a diminutive pygmy tyrannosaur. However, recent evidence suggests that what was thought to be a pygmy was, in fact, a juvenile of a much larger Alaska dinosaur. The "Northern Tyrant King" embodies ongoing discoveries across various locations in Alaska related to this ancient apex predator, including findings on size, primitive feathers, and sexual dimorphism, along with other exciting aspects that will soon be announced in scientific publications.  

The full-scale sculpture will blend traditional arts of oil painting and sculpture with cutting-edge 3D digital skull reconstruction, expertly recreated by Jesse Pruitt of Buzzsaw Studios, who will then sculpt over it in clay for maximum accuracy. The project benefits from the expertise of Dr. Pat Druckenmiller from the UAF Museum of the North as the dedicated scientific adviser. Once completed, the dioramic painting will merge with the sculptural elements, creating the impression of a full-sized animal while occupying significantly less exhibition space. Additionally, other newly discovered smaller arctic dinosaur species will be sculpted and incorporated within the dioramic foreground.

JESSE PRUITT / Buzzsaw Studio - Special thanks to Jesse Pruitt for his brilliant skull reconstructions and digital printing, including incredible pieces featuring the Alaska dinosaur sculpture. He's the best in the business and is a must for this type of project. Check out his world-famous "Buzzsaw Studio!"  

DAVE CAVITT / FURNATURE ENTERPRISES of ALASKA Inc. - Special thanks to Dave Cavitt and the entire mall crew for their support in providing exceptional exhibit spaces for the Alaska Paleo-Project pop-up educational exhibitions over these many seasons.  

PAT DRUCKENMILLER / UAF Museum of the North - Special thanks to Pat for being our scientific advisor over these many years and providing many of the hands-on exhibit items within Alaska Paleo-Project exhibits, including artifacts linked to the Tyrannosaurus rex relative.  

THANK YOU - to all the contributors (too many to list) over these many years - you know who you are and are very much appreciated - thank you!  

AND TO YOU, OUR SUPPORTERS AND FOLLOWERS: THANK YOU!