.
Graham at his Venice studio in 1997 with work that would become part of a memorial to President Franklin Roosevelt.
Bob Chamberlin /
Los Angeles Times
The artist designed major civic monuments throughout the country.
LOS ANGELES, California / Los Angeles Times / December 28, 2008
By Suzanne Muchnic and Cara Mia DiMassa
Robert Graham, a Los Angeles sculptor with a towering public presence who designed major civic monuments across the nation, died Saturday at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, his friend Roy Doumani said. Graham, who had been ill for about six months, was 70.
Photos: Robert Graham An elegant, gentlemanly artist who maintained a large studio in Venice, Graham was enormously productive throughout his career. A fiercely independent perfectionist with high-tech skills and an enduring fascination with the female figure, he explored almost every conceivable position and attitude of the female nude in his personal work, often working in an intimate scale.
But he is best known for large public commissions that pay homage to historical figures or symbolize big ideas in prominent locations....
....among his tributes to beloved public figures, his proudest achievement was probably the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.
....
On Dec. 15, Graham was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
In addition to his wife and son, Graham leaves a group of artist friends including painter Ed Moses, who called him "a golden man" and "a great artist."
"He was just one of these impeccable human beings that I love greatly and all of his friends did too," Moses said. "He will make a mark historically as a sculptor . . . the museums don't understand this yet, but they will. He was an independent, and never played according to the rules. He did it the way he wanted, and he didn't play ball with museums or dealers. He was a real independent force and powerful force."
To read the full unabridged report in the LOS ANGELES TIMES,
click here.
suzanne.muchnic @latimes.com
cara.dimassa@latimes.com
Times staff writers Diane Haithman and Mike Boehm contributed to this report.
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
Graham at his Venice studio in 1997 with work that would become part of a memorial to President Franklin Roosevelt.
Bob Chamberlin /
Los Angeles Times
The artist designed major civic monuments throughout the country.
LOS ANGELES, California / Los Angeles Times / December 28, 2008
By Suzanne Muchnic and Cara Mia DiMassa
Robert Graham, a Los Angeles sculptor with a towering public presence who designed major civic monuments across the nation, died Saturday at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, his friend Roy Doumani said. Graham, who had been ill for about six months, was 70.
Photos: Robert Graham An elegant, gentlemanly artist who maintained a large studio in Venice, Graham was enormously productive throughout his career. A fiercely independent perfectionist with high-tech skills and an enduring fascination with the female figure, he explored almost every conceivable position and attitude of the female nude in his personal work, often working in an intimate scale.
But he is best known for large public commissions that pay homage to historical figures or symbolize big ideas in prominent locations....
....among his tributes to beloved public figures, his proudest achievement was probably the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.
....
On Dec. 15, Graham was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
In addition to his wife and son, Graham leaves a group of artist friends including painter Ed Moses, who called him "a golden man" and "a great artist."
"He was just one of these impeccable human beings that I love greatly and all of his friends did too," Moses said. "He will make a mark historically as a sculptor . . . the museums don't understand this yet, but they will. He was an independent, and never played according to the rules. He did it the way he wanted, and he didn't play ball with museums or dealers. He was a real independent force and powerful force."
To read the full unabridged report in the LOS ANGELES TIMES, click here.
suzanne.muchnic @latimes.com
cara.dimassa@latimes.com
Times staff writers Diane Haithman and Mike Boehm contributed to this report.
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
