Christopher Bennett, a native Iowan, specializes in classically rendered sculptures of human figures and animal wildlife. Christopher Bennett has degrees from Luther College, University of Colorado, University of Iowa, and the Naguib School of Sculpture. In 1979, Bennett established a studio in Fairfield, Iowa. He has spent his non-studio time teaching, giving lectures and conducting workshops. He has over 45 public commissioned works of art to his credit — including a portrait of the mayor of Kofu, for the Kofu City Hall, Kofu, Japan.
Artist's Statement
"My works are primarily human figures and animal wildlife, classically rendered. They emphasize the importance of relationships. Those include wisdom and innocence, family members with each other, children, men and women with each other, and with their country, also, animals in their environment. In order to capture the universality of life, I carefully observe the psyche and physical interactions of my subjects, whether people or wildlife."
Education
Naguib School of Sculpture, Chicago, Illinois
Figure modeling, molding, fired ceramic, bronze casting, and stone carving under the instruction of Mustafa Naguib.
University of Iowa City, Iowa
Sculpture and drawing under the instruction of Julius Schmidt.
University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
Sculpture and drawing.
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
Ceramic sculpture, drawing, and painting under the direction of Dean Schwartz.
Experience
Over 40 years experience in bronze, ceramics, welded steel, wood, stone, resin, cast iron, plaster and cement.
Work includes over 60 public commissions and numerous private commissions, small reproductions, teaching, slide lectures, demonstrations, and exhibits.
Awarded Change, Inc., grant, 1998; Adolf and Esther Gottlieb emergency Assistance grant, 1998; Artist Fellowship Inc., grant, 1999; Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant, 1999.
Selected for an artist exchange program, Kufo City, Japan. Displayed three sculptures and created a ceramic portrait of the mayor of Kufo City.
Awarded Numerous Iowa Arts Council grants, including a research and observation grant to interview various artist in Yugoslavia.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0)
