White House Installs Sculpture by UW-Madison Art Professor

The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden at the White House will be home for the next year to a new sculpture by Truman Lowe, professor of art at UW–Madison.

“Effigy: Bird Mound” is one of 12 outdoor works chosen by the Heard Museum in Phoenix for display at the White House. Made of 2-inch solid aluminum rods, the piece measures 20 feet, 6 inches from wing to wing, and 11 feet, 8 inches from head to tail.

Lowe’s sculpture is one of only a few new pieces that the Heard commissioned for the exhibition, Lowe says. After he completed the design, the Hooper Company of Madison fabricated the actual piece, which the White House officially will debut today (Nov. 5).

According to Jim Escalante, chair of the Department of Art, participation in the White House exhibition adds special luster to the department as well as to Lowe himself.

“Having Truman’s work in the White House show will bring increased awareness of our sculpture program, our faculty and our students,” says Escalante. “I think one of the reasons Truman has been so successful as an artist is that he crosses a lot of boundaries. Students studying with him are able to see that they can be influenced by somebody and still speak with their own unique voice.”

“This is an enormous honor,” Lowe says. “I am absolutely delighted to be included in this exhibition.”

On the UW–Madison faculty since 1976, Lowe chaired the department between 1992-95. He has exhibited internationally, nationally and regionally. His work is part of the permanent collections of both public and private galleries and museums. This semester, he is teaching beginning, intermediate and advanced sculpture classes, plus working with graduate students. When it leaves the White House, “Effigy: Bird Mound” will go on permanent display in the Heard Museum’s outdoor sculpture garden.