Meet George Lundeen | Founder of Lundeen Sculpture Studios

A black-and-white photo of a man with a mustache, wearing a cable-knit sweater, looking directly at the camera.

Sculpting Timeless Art with Vision and Precision

George Lundeen

George Lundeen is an American sculptor widely recognized for his ability to capture the human spirit through expressive bronze portraiture and narrative sculpture. His work spans a broad range of subjects, each piece reflecting a deep sensitivity to character, movement, and story — from playful children and everyday storytellers to prominent historical figures and celebrated athletes.

Lundeen’s sculptures are admired for their lifelike presence and the sense of warmth and humanity they convey.

A native of Holdrege, Nebraska, Lundeen pursued his artistic training both in the United States and abroad. He studied at the Academia de Belle Arti in Florence, Italy as a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar, where he immersed himself in classical European sculptural traditions. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts from Hastings College in Nebraska.

In the mid-1970s, Lundeen established his sculpting studio in Loveland, Colorado — a community known for its strong tradition in sculpture and bronze casting. There, he built what would become Lundeen Sculpture Studios, a family-run studio dedicated to preserving the artistry and craftsmanship of traditional bronze sculpture.

As the founding artist, Lundeen continues to guide the studio’s creative vision while remaining deeply involved in the sculptural process. His experience spans every stage of production, from initial concept sketches and clay modeling to casting, welding, patina, and final finishing. This hands-on approach ensures that each work reflects both technical mastery and artistic integrity.

Throughout his career, Lundeen has been commissioned to create portraits and interpretive works for universities, municipalities, foundations, and corporations across the United States. His sculptures can be found in public spaces, institutions, and private collections, where they continue to celebrate history, community, and the human experience.

Lundeen is a member of the National Academy of Design and the National Sculpture Society.

Black and white photograph of a bronze statue of a man in a military jacket and goggles, with four men standing around it, one touching the statue. The statue's arm is raised with a pointed finger. The setting appears to be indoors with a plain backdrop.

An older man with a white mustache wearing a red shirt is sculpting a life-sized bust of a man in a suit with a tie. The man being sculpted has detailed hair and a suit with a shirt and tie. In the background, there is a green bicycle with a white seat and white tires.

A man is smiling and holding orange and black fabric around a large stone monument during a gathering, with a crowd and umbrellas in the background.

A larger-than-life sculpture of a man in a diving pose, made entirely of wood, with a man standing next to it for scale. The sculpture appears to be part of an art or craft exhibit on a stage with a wooden floor, and a person in the background watching.

Education

Fulbright-Hayes Scholar: Post graduate work at the Academia de Belle Arte in Florence, Italy (1973 - 1974)

Master of Fine Arts, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois (1971 - 1973)

Bachelor of Arts, Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska (1966 - 1971)

Texas A&M Artist in Residence (1978 - 1979)

Allied Artists of America

National Sculpture Society

Fellow National Academy of Design

Association Memberships

An older man with gray hair and a mustache wearing safety goggles and a headlamp, working on a metallic statue of a baseball player in a workshop.

Photo courtesy of Christina Gressianu

2014 “Ben Franklin” - Franklin Academy, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
2013 Scheels Sporting Goods - Cedar Falls, IA. Sioux Falls, SD
2012 Scheels Sporting Goods - Sandy, Utah
2011 Scheels Sporting Goods - Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota
2010 “CC Gates” relief for Wings Over the Rockies Museum Denver, CO
2010 “Red McCombs” for University of Texas Austin, TX
2009 “Red Grange” for the University of Illinois Champaign, Illinois
2009 Scheels Sporting Goods Fargo, ND
2008 Scheels Sporting Goods Sparks, NV
2006 “Waitin’ for an Answer” for Leaning tree Museum Boulder, Colorado
2006 “Tom McKee” for Larimer County Colorado
2005 “The Player” monument to “Branch Rickey”, Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
2004 “On the Trail of Discovery” Great Plains Art Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska
2002 “Harvest Dreams” for the Marketplace, Brighton, CO
2002 “Mari Sandoz” for the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center, Chadron State College, Chadron, NE
2001 “End of an Era” commissioned for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Colorado
2001 “Mari Sandoz” commissioned for Chadron State College, Chadron, Nebraska
2000 “Holly Coors” commissioned for the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1999 Portrait busts of former Nebraska state senators, Jerome Warner, and his father Charles Warner for the Nebraska Capitol in Lincoln
1997 “Jack Swigert” commissioned for Statuary Hall, the Capitol Building, Washington D.C.
1997 “Portrait of Nathan Gold” for the Nebraska State Capitol Building, Lincoln, Nebraska
1996 “Dolphins” commissioned for the Marketplace Mall, Westminster, Colorado
1996 “Robert Frost” commissioned by Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
1995 “Mary Lanning” commissioned for the Mary Lanning Hospital, Hastings, Nebraska
1994 “Portrait of Dwight Griswold” for Nebraska State Capitol Building, Lincoln, Nebraska
1993 “George W. Hopper” commissioned for the University of Wyoming Law Library, Laramie, Wyoming
1993″Cliff Hillegass” (Cliff’s Notes) commissioned for Cliff Hillegass Sculpture Garden at the Museum of Nebraska Art, University of Nebraska at Kearney
1993 “George W. Norris” commissioned by Nebraska Rural Electric Association for the National Cooperative Headquarters, Dallas, Texas
1993 1 1/2 life-size portrait of pioneer aviator, Elrey B. Jeppesen, for the Jeppesen Terminal Building of the new Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado
1992 “Branch Rickey – Baseball Man of the Year” Award, Inaugural year presented to Dan Winfield\
1992 “Portrait of Art Thompson” for Nebraska State Capitol Building, Lincoln, Nebraska
1992 “Players” for the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
1990 Life-size “Runner” and “Couple on Bench” for NIKE Inc., Corporate Headquarters, Beaverton, Oregon
1989 “Joy of Music” commissioned for the Civic Center of Loveland, Colorado
1988 “Gene Sarazen” commissioned for the Atlanta National Golf Club
1987 “Ben Franklin” commissioned for the University of Pennsylvania
1986 “Gilbert Hitchcock” commissioned by the Nebraska Historical Foundation
1983 “Promise of the Prairie” (10′ tall) bronze of prairie family for Holdrege, Nebraska
Sep 2008 – National Sculpture Society News Bulletin
Jan 2007 – Art of the West
Jan 2005 – Art Talk
Aug 2003 – Art of the West
Aug 1993 – Southwest Art
Aug 1992 – Revue Magazine
Nov 1991 – Art of the West
Jan 1988 – Art Talk
May 1983 – Southwest Art
Spring 1981 – Artists of the Rockies
Beatrice Public Library, Beatrice, Nebraska
Benson Sculpture Park, Loveland, Colorado
Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA
Botanical Gardens, Wichita, Kansas
CALTECH, Pasadena, California
China Exhibition Agency, Beijing, China
City of Carmel, California
City of Cerritos, California
City of Glendale, Arizona
City of Greeley, Colorado
City of Holdrege, Nebraska
City of Lincoln, Nebraska
City of Loveland, Colorado
City of Westminster, Colorado
Coors Baseball Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Coronado-Quivira Museum, Lyons, Kansas
Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
Farro Enterprises, Independence, Ohio
Franklin International Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah
Jeppesen Sanderson Co., Frankfurt, Germany
Koelbel Public Library, Denver, Colorado
Laramie County Library, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Laramie County Memorial Hospital, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Museum of Outdoor Art, Denver, Colorado
Nike Inc., Beaverton, Oregon
Prince Corporation, Holland, Michigan
Rippon College, Rippon, Wisconsin
Smithfield Foods, Smithfield, Virginia
St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
Stanford Law School, Stanford, California
Tallon Companies, Roseville, Michigan
Tebo Corporation, Boulder, Colorado
Trammel Crow Co., Dallas, Texas
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
Warwick Malkin Co., Stamford, Connecticut
West Publishing Co, St. Paul, Minnesota
University of Nebraska
1999 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
State of Nebraska
1995 “Distinguished Nebraskan” by proclamation of the Governor of Nebraska
Legislature of Nebraska and the Nebraskaland Foundation
1995 Pioneer Award
National Sculpture Society
1983 National Sculpture Society’s Prizewinner Exhibition, Bronze Medal: “Departure”
1982 National Sculpture Silver Medal: “Old Friends”
1981 National Sculpture Bronze Medal: “Departure”
Allied Artists of America
1991 Associate Members Award: “Joy of Music-Bass Player”
1990 Helen Gapen Oehler Memorial Award: “Hearts on a Swing”
1987 Allied Artists Members & Associates Award: “Ben Franklin”
1981 Pietro and Alfrieda Montana Memorial Award: “Michelle”
North American Sculpture Exhibition
1986 John Cavenaugh Memorial Award: “Flatlander”
1983 Art Castings of Colorado Award: “Lovers”
1981 Rocky Mountain Sculpture Award: “Last Laugh”
1980 North American Sculpture Award (Best of Show): “Il Barbone”
1979 North American Sculpture Award (Best of Show): “Departure”
American Indian and Cowboy Artist Western Arts Exhibition
1992 Artist of the West