Sculpture — James Barnhill

Sculpture: Selected Works

James Barnhill has been internationally recognized for his prolific sculpture career, which spans more than three decades. View a selection of Barnhill's personal and commissioned work in the slideshow below.

Minerva

Bronze, 2003
9'x4'x4' (16' including pedestal)
Universty of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina

Minerva

Bronze, 2003
9'x4'x4' (16' including pedestal)
Universty of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina

Pamela

Bronze, 1981
10'x7'x6'
Collection of the Artist

General Nathanael Greene

Bronze, 2008
11.5'x3'x3' (22' including pedestal)
City of Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina

General Nathanael Greene

Bronze, 2008
11.5'x3'x3' (22' including pedestal)
City of Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina

February One

Bronze, 2002
10'x 10'x 3'
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

February One

Bronze, 2002
10'x 10'x 3'
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

February One

Bronze, 2002
10'x 10'x 3'
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

February One

Bronze, 2002
10'x 10'x 3'
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

Booker T. Washington

Burnt Chimney, VA

The Angel of Montoursville

Bronze, 1999
8.5' x 3' x 3' (17' including pedestal)
City of Montoursville
Montoursville, Pennsylvania

Christ the Healer

Bronze, 1995
6'x6'3'
Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center
Mission Viejo, California

Christ the Healer (Detail)

Bronze, 1995
6'x6'3'
Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center
Mission Viejo, California

Civitas

Bronze, 1996
6'x4'x3'
City of Mountain Brook
Mountain Brook, Alabama

Echo

Bronze, 1991
38"x48"x35"
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham, Alabama

Eve, the Sixth Day

Bronze, 1982
64"x14"x14"
Northern Telecom
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Eve, the Sixth Day

Bronze, 1982
64"x14"x14"
Northern Telecom
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Mary at the Wedding of Cana

Bronze, 2000
8.5'x4'4'
Sister of Divine Providence
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Robin

Bronze, 1989
40"x17"x13"
Private Collection
Williamsburg, Virginia

Robin

Bronze, 1989
40"x17"x13"
Private Collection
Williamsburg, Virginia

Little Sipper

Bronze, 1995
40"x30"x20"
City of Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina

The Story

Bronze, 1998
8'x3'x3'
Patrick Beaver Memorial Library
Hickory, North Carolina

Hosea

Cast Iron
16"x8"x11"
Collection of the Artist

Audrey

Hydrocal, 1990
26"x8"x5"
Collection of the Artist
Greensboro, North Carolina

Lazarus I

Hydrocal, 1986
7"x23"x14"
Collection of the Artist
Greensboro, North Carolina

Lazarus II

Hydrocal, 1986
13"x19"x11"
Collection of the Artist

Musing

Bronze, 2000
9"x13"x7"
Collection of the Artist
Greensboro, North Carolina

Musing

Bronze, 2000
9"x13"x7"
Collection of the Artist
Greensboro, North Carolina

Geisha

Bronze
20"x7"x6"
Private Collection
Raleigh, North Carolina

Sleeping Muse

Bronze, 1987
9"x18"x10"
Northern Telecom
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Benjamin and Maxine Swalin

(Founders of the NC Symphony)
Bronze, 2001
48"x32"x32"
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
Raleigh, North Carolina

Rosa Parks, Maquette

2009
21" x 15" x 12"
Washington, DC

Barnhill on Process:

"My approach to sculpting the figure is to work from the live model in clay. I work from the silhouetted edges or contours, "drawing" with small bits of clay. As I follow the forms around the live model, the contours I am making in clay must conform to the model as well as line up with each other. As I work around the piece, I move around the model.

Working in this manner is my greatest joy. A laser-like focus required, and yet this focus is not exhausting, rather it is relaxing, even pleasurable.

I also look for suggested geometric forms in the pose or within the figure itself - circles, arcs, squares, rectangles, and triangles. I will push the clay in that direction, but not beyond believability. The mind's eye is pleased to recognize those shapes in any given piece, whether conscious of them or not."