Commissioned Sculptor: Gary Lee Price, NSS

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “The spirit of man is what makes him unique above all of God’s creations. Gary Lee Price bronzes come as close to “capturing” this spirit as is humanly possible. Sculpture with meaning, sculpture to “lift the human spirit” – sculpture to inspire – this is the essence of Gary’s work. This is his life’s journey – to lift – to inspire.

One of the largest libraries in the world, the Hong Kong Central Library, 12 stories high and 300,000 square feet, is graced by the recent installation of 12 Gary Lee Price life-size bronze sculptures. This impressive display includes bronzes of young readers, happy children releasing doves, others playing with shells in water, some holding beautiful flowers or soaring through the air as though weightless. Additionally, two 22” round frogs, “Puffed Up Princes”, are sentinels at the entrance of the children’s library.

The 11foot “Celebration!” featuring joyous children soaring around a globe celebrating life was first unveiled in Surrey England at the American Community Schools with the most recent being dedicated in Decatur, Georgia by former First Lady Rosalyn Carter. A 22-foot version of the same sculpture is located at the entrance of the 10 story corporate headquarters for NuSkin International in Provo, Utah.

Literally thousands of Gary Lee Price sculptures are in public and private collections throughout the world. This includes his 12-foot angel “messenger” monument in Iceland honoring over 400 early immigrants to the U.S. Gary has recently completed the sculpture “Communion”, a 15-foot high monument of grasping hands for the United Methodist Church of Brentwood Tennessee. The theme, God’s hand reaching down to man, has been an important aspect of his work as reflected in such pieces as “Synergy”, “Helping Hand”, “Ascent” and “Circle of Peace”. Uplifting others, helping others and joining hands with others in brotherhood and sisterhood are essential parts of the life of Gary Lee Price. Gary has been sculpting professionally for over 20 years and has supported a successful fine art business during those years. Gary resides in Utah and credits his success to wife Lanea, and the inspiration of support of their five boys, Zachariah, Isaiah, Tyrone, Raphael and Justin.

My passion for art, and my belief that art empowers and lifts the human spirit has only grown stronger throughout my life. I have been blessed with many generous and selfless mentors, and my dream is to pass on those gifts to others.

Gary believes in ‘perpetual student-hood’ and teaches regularly at the Loveland, Colorado Academy of Fine Art. He finds travel and research an important part of his life. He has lived two years in Germany while serving a mission for his church. He has also spent six months in Israel, one month touring the jungles and ruins of Mexico and Guatemala, and in 1984 was in eleven different European countries for three months, including one month in Egypt. In 1991 Gary was elected a member of the National Sculpture Society.

His works are included in public and private collections throughout the world including the LDS Museum of Church History and Art, the Springville Museum of Art, the Salt Lake County permanent arts collection, Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana, American Community Schools, Surry, England, Westside Preparatory School, Chicago, Rich De Voss Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dallas Arboretum, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, Dallas, the Gladny Center, Ft. Worth, Galleria Paseo Mall, Puerto Rico, Bluegrass Airport, Lexington, Kentucky, Neverland Ranch, Los Olivios, California, Indianapolis Children’s Museum and several cities, libraries and other public facilities.

The sculptures of Gary Lee Price are displayed at a select group of 25 galleries throughout the United States. “I hope I can assist the world in visualizing a place where fences and boundaries, both real and imagined, are nonexistent. A place where bias and prejudice are long forgotten. And finally a place where acts of kindness, mutual respect and love are every day happenings!” So muses Gary as he goes to work on his latest piece entitled “Bridge Builders”. (www.garyleeprice.com) or (garyleepricesculpture.com)