Eagle Catcher
George Carlson
Bronze, 1973
Gift in memory of Martin J. and Mary Anne O’Fallon, Presented by the Colorado Business Pioneers O’Fallon Trust, 1974
As a sculptor of western subject matter, George Carlson is best known for his representations of animals in bronze. He studied art at the American Academy of Art and at the Art Institute of Chicago, continuing with anthropology studies at the University of Arizona. His time in the Southwest inspired an interest in regional Native American culture and imagery.
Eagles appear often in Carlson’s sculpture from the late 1960s onward. He bases these complex compositions on careful studies of the birds in the wild. The eagle’s graceful flight and its role in Native American traditions are both represented in this work. The prize-winning Eagle Catcher is often cited as one of the artist’s most significant early bronzes.
University of Denver Art Collections, 1974.001