This artist from Los Angeles is best recognized for his sculptures and large monuments. His colossal bronze creations immortalize the human form. They are erected in public places throughout the United States. His most renowned works include the Olympic Gateway at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Fountain Figures in the Sculpture Garden at the University of California, Los Angeles. Graham also created the Wheel of Conscience for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Joe Louis Memorial in Detroit. You may also learn about the Shepard Fairey murals that have flooded Los Angeles. Find out more at i-los-angeles.
Biography
Robert Graham was born on August 19, 1938, in Mexico City. The artist’s mother was Peruvian, and his father was American. He lived the majority of his life in San Jose, California. He had a natural talent for art from childhood. The man and his family resided in London for a while before relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Because of his interest in art, he enrolled at San Jose State College and the San Francisco Art Institute. After graduating, Robert relocated to Los Angeles, where he lived most of his life. Graham passed away at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 27, 2008, following a lengthy fight with an illness. The funeral was held in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
In addition to his work, he was also known for his striking appearance: he had a thick beard, frequently wore a cowboy hat and occasionally dressed entirely in leather. He was also very fond of motorcycles. He even became a collector, acquiring several vintage motorcycles.
Creative work
Until the late 1960s, the sculptor’s work was shown in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, New York, London, Cologne and Essen, among other places. His first solo exhibition took place at the Dallas Museum of Art in 1972.
Graham’s art is diverse in scale and technique. In the 1970s, he focused on creating miniature wax sculptures. He portrayed people interacting in a variety of contemporary settings. Then, in the 1980s, he created a monument to boxer Joe Louis. It was a bronze fist and forearm that stood over 7 meters tall.
One of Graham’s monumental works was the ceremonial gate of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum built for the 1984 Olympic Games. He also made a commemorative silver dollar on the occasion. The Gateway featured two torsos, a male and a female. They were modeled after athletes competing in the Olympics. The gate served as the main design element of the Olympics. Following the completion of this piece, Graham was commissioned to create many more massive works, including the Great Bronze Doors of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.
In Washington, Graham’s bronze sculptures can be seen at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. There, bronze panels represent 54 social programs launched as part of the president’s new course. Graham also produced a life-size bronze statue of President Roosevelt in a wheelchair at the entrance to the memorial. The Duke Ellington Memorial, located in New York’s Central Park, stands 30 feet tall. It features three columns surrounded by muses. They hold the figure of the musician and the piano beside him.
An unusual sculpture
His mother had a strong influence on his early work. After all, his inspiration came from ancient Mesoamerican and Peruvian cultures. However, the real popularity was brought to him by monumental bronze sculptures depicting people in dynamic poses.
One of the artist’s most impressive sculptures is Quetzalcoatl, which is located in San Jose. Robert Graham was commissioned to create this statue by the city council. The local authorities then intended to erect a statue to show respect for the traditional beliefs of the Inca and Maya Indians, whose descendants had once lived on these lands. Even though the sculptor accomplished the assignment, the customer was dissatisfied. Following the monument’s official opening, many were outraged with the deity chosen. It was Quetzalcoatl, the famous heart-ripping demon. However, the sculptor was paid more than $500,000 for his work. Graham also accepted and executed private orders. In particular, he designed the grave of Johnny Ramone at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
The artist’s awards and exhibitions
In 1983, Graham was elected to the National Academy of Design as an associate member, and in 1994, he was promoted to full academic status. Throughout his professional career, the artist won numerous prizes, including the National Medal of Arts in 1998. In 2008, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Graham’s induction into the California Hall of Fame, which is located at the California Museum of History, Women and the Arts. Unfortunately, Robert was unable to take the award due to his health problems. It was received by his son, Steven.
The sculptor’s works can be found in museums around the world, including Honolulu, Dallas, Des Moines, Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington, Kansas City, Hamburg, Cologne, Aehan, Rotterdam, Houston, New York, Paris, Cardiff, Pasadena, Oakland, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Northampton, the University of Notre Dame, London and Minneapolis.