Hello!
I’m Craig Campbell…
…Elected Sculptor Member of the National Sculpture Society / National Sculptor’s Guild Fellow / Sculptor for the United States Mint / and professional artist with over 25 years’ experience in public artworks. My passion is for creating sculpture and monuments all over the world.
A bit about my approach to creating sculpture…
I’ve been creative all my life and growing up drawing always came naturally to me. It was in my twenties that I realized I could sculpt. I was working as a nightclub bouncer and drawing pictures on a slow night when a friend dared me to try sculpting. So, I accepted the challenge and went to the library, got books on sculpting and set out to prove I could do it. Little did I realize I had begun a lifelong journey! I had found my passion! I wanted to sculpt everything, and in every material. I had a dream to learn all there was and to create a legacy of sculpture to inspire others. This passion for sculpture has led me around the world to create sculpture and to teach what I’d learned. Aside from the joy of creating, the greatest pleasure in sculpting is teaching students to “see” artistically, and the first time they have that “aha!” moment is precious.
My experience in sculpture is both academic and self-taught. I sculpt traditionally, and digitally. I sculpt fine art, and commercial art. I currently sculpt monuments with National Sculptor's Guild, and Medallic Art with United States Mint, and have work in the National Sculpture Society gallery in NYC.
I am also studying art history, and sculpture through the ages, to better understand how and why we create.
Sculpture, for me, is about communication. We record our moments in clay, or stone, or bronze to preserve them for all who may connect and appreciate them from one generation to the next. Whether it’s a classic Greek statue, or a modern monument to fallen heroes, it speaks volumes to future generations saying this is who we are… and where we come from. What we create today will be the precious antiques of tomorrow.
Art, in my opinion, should be engaging, inspiring, enduring, and true. In our rapidly and everchanging world a sculpture is an unchanging respite and a reminder of who we are as a people and a culture. How many times have we gone back to places we’ve known just to revisit, and reconnect with memories of past times? Artworks serve as icons to passageways able to move us into another time / place and inspire us to a greater future.
I’ve dedicated my life to communicating through sculpture so that others can know that art connects us… on all levels… with all people.
-C
Resume / CV
“Craig Campbell began sculpting more than 25 years ago and received his BFA in sculpture from Wichita State University. To further his goal to create figurative and representational work, he began a rigorous program of self-study in the areas of human and animal anatomy, movement, character, and proportion. He has created work for both commercial clients and fine art galleries, and his work has been commissioned by zoos and theming companies, toy companies, and the film industry, including work for The HOBBIT, Elysium, and Mad Max. He was a featured artist in the HISTORY channel’s “MONUMENT GUYS” TV series.” (Excerpt UALR)
Public art credits include:
1). Pride of the Plains Lion Monument (Bronze) Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita Ks
2). American Bald Eagle (Bronze), Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita KS
3). Cassowary (Bronze), Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita KS
4). Rugby World Cup Monument (Bronze and Concrete), Wellington, New Zealand
5). Tigers and Sun Bears x 4 (concrete), Wellington Zoo, Wellington, New Zealand
6). The Born Collection x 6 (Bronze), Neonatal Trust, Wellington, New Zealand
7). Neptune Monument (Bronze), private collection / Sculpture Park
8). Sleeping man on Ball Monument (Bronze), private collection / Sculpture Park
9). Walking Man Monument (Bronze), private collection / Sculpture Park
10). Leaping Man Monument (Bronze), private collection / Sculpture Park
11). Robots bas- Reliefs x 2, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, NZ
12). Zoot suits bas- relief, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, NZ
13). Flappers bas-relief, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, NZ
14). Roxy Fish handles x 4, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, NZ
15). Art deco Lamps x 2, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, NZ
16). Art Deco corbels x 12, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, NZ
17). Art Deco Marquee, Roxy Cinema, Miramar, NZ
18). Harry Houdini Monument (Bronze), Appleton, Wisconsin
19). Pirate Monument (Bronze), Oklahoma City, OK and St. Augustine FLA
20). Hugh Glass Monument (Bronze), TBD
21). General Tom Stafford Monument (Bronze), Weatherford, OK
22). Harry S. Truman Monument (Bronze), Oklahoma City, OK
23). Medusa (Bronze), Private commission
24). Bertha Belle and Clancy (Bronze), Vogel Schwartz sculpture garden, Little Rock, AR
25). Bucknell Bison (Bronze), Bucknell University, Lewisville, PA
26). “Into the Wind” (Bronze), Benson Sculpture Park, Loveland, CO
27). Houdini, (Bronze) Lafayette, CO
28). Tootsie’s Scribbles, Hot Springs, AR
29). Over the Moon (Bronze), ), Vogel Schwartz sculpture garden, Little Rock, AR
30). Cat and Mouse, Private collection
31). United States Mint
32). ABRACADABRA, Little Rock, AR
33). ABRACADABRA, Loveland, CO
34). Johnny Cash monument, National Gallery, Washington DC (finalist)
35). Please check for more:
Craig Campbell, Medallic Artist | U.S. Mint (usmint.gov)
Gallery Representation includes:
Columbine Gallery - Loveland, CO
National Sculpture Society - New York, NY
Exhibitions Gallery – Wellington, New Zealand
MUD HAUS, Wichita, KS
Commercial Clients Include:
UNITED STATES MINT
History Channel - MONUMENT GUYS, NY
Weta Workshop, NZ
McFarlane Toys, AZ NJ
Envision, Wichita, KS
Sedgwick County Zoo, KS
Virginia Zoo, VA
Cameron Park Zoo, TX
Teaching Credits:
Bethany College, Lindborg KS / 2016-present
La Meridiana, Tuscany, Italy / Symposium 2018
University of Arkansas, Little Rock AR - workshop 2018
Media Design School, Auckland, New Zealand / workshop 2014
Palette and Chisel, Chicago IL / workshop 2015-2018
Center for the Arts, Wichita KS / 2014 – 2016
Campbell Studios, Wichita KS / 2014 - present
Awards:
88th Annual National Sculpture Society Awards Exhibition / Award Winners Exhibition
Fred and Cheryl Newby Patrons Award
1st in Sculpture - St. Stephen’s Art Show, Miami, FLA 2015
3rd in Three dimensional/ Sculpture – Autumn &Art, Wichita, KS 2015
1st in Sculpture – Art City Austin, Austin , TX
References
Rob Muraskin
Co-Executive Producer, MONUMENT GUYS for H2/ HISTORY CHANNEL
muraskin@gmail.com
ph. +1 917-714-3570 I am writing to give my highest possible recommendation for Mr. Craig Campbell. I know Craig through his work as a sculptor on the show “Monument Guys,” a television series I executive produce for the History Channel’s H2 Network. I first became aware of Craig while scouting for a sculptor to make an appearance on our show— Craig’s prior work experience made him an immediate standout, and his immense talent and charisma propelled him from one singular appearance to a lead role on the entire series. It’s hard to overstate Craig’s creative talents— they’re immense and his work speaks for itself. But Craig is also an outstanding colleague; one of the hardest-working and most dedicated people I have ever worked with. Over the course of the past year, while filming our show, we’ve put him under tremendous pressure with extremely tight deadlines, a rigorous travel schedule, and sculpture subjects that ran the gauntlet; from Blackbeard to an Apollo astronaut. Each and every bronze sculpture he produced was outstanding in every way, and just as remarkable were his positive attitude, problem-solving skills, adaptability, teamwork, and tireless work ethic. At one point, Craig sculpted for thirty hours straight in order to assist a fellow sculptor who had fallen behind on a deadline. Craig is exceptional in every way, and I wholeheartedly recommend him. Please contact me any time to speak in person… Sincerely, Rob Muraskin
Gino Acevido
Textures Supervisor and Creative Art Director for Weta Digital
gino@wetafx.co.nz
ph. (04) 909-6245
To whom it may concern:
My name is Gino Acevedo and I work for both Weta Digital and Weta Workshop. I am a special makeup effects artist as well as a digital artist. I have been working in the film industry for over 25 years. My film credits include: Alien3, Men in Black, Death Becomes Her, Godzilla, Independence Day, Wolf, the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, King Kong, Rise and Dawn of Planet of the Apes to name a few.
I have had the great privilege of knowing and working with Craig for the past 3 years here in New Zealand. He has brought with him his great sculpting and design skills and has willingly passed them on to many other artists. Craig is perfect teacher and carries a presence about him that excites people and gives them the confidence needed to be able to create. He is a very dedicated to his craft and gives 110% of devotion to it, and it obviously shows in the final results.
I am very proud to know Craig and am constantly amazed at seeing what he produces. He is one of the great classic sculptors of our time and a great friend.
If you have any need for further discussion, please feel free to email or call me.
Sincerely, Gino Acevedo
Mark Palmerton
The Crucible LLC
markpalmerton@gmail.com
ph. 405-579-2433
To whom it may concern,
I’ve known Mr. Campbell and his God given talents for 18 years, he is a man of dignity, a man of knowledge, and a man that wears his beliefs with his strength…
His artistic ability is special; capturing “time” is second nature to Craig. He develops an atmosphere that invites the viewer to take heed, his work demands it!
Working side by side with Craig this past year on multiple projects has been refreshing, his readiness for a challenge is something hard to find in a sculptor these days. Many times I see the hesitation of design or the indecisiveness of textures upon a form, but with Craig, that “second nature” kicks in, along with the passion he carries, and from there, his hands bring the clay to life!
As a foundry man of nearly 35 years I’ve seen all sides of the sculptural realm, specifically in bronze, and let me say that Craig’s work is alive, it’s clay that will capture the moment. I highly recommend his talents as well as his person for such a task, you will be rewarded with something magnificent!
Respectfully,
Mark Palmerton Owner
The Crucible LLC
*more references available on request.