Robert Russin

Robert Isaiah Russin (August 26, 1914 - December 13, 2007) was an American sculptor, artist and University of Wyoming professor. He was best known for a number of public sculptures throughout the United States, including the "Spirit of Life" fountain sculpture located at the City of Hope National Medical Center in California and a giant bust of Abraham Lincoln, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument, located on I-80 in Wyoming.

Robert Russin was born in New York City on August 26, 1914. He received both his bachelor's degree and master's degree from the City College of New York. Russin briefly taught at Cooper Union in Manhattan. He won two federal sculpture competitions by the age of 25. Inspiration that he found in the state and family health reasons prompted him to move to Wyoming in his mid-thirties. He accepted a teaching position in 1947 at the University of Wyoming. Russin remained at UW's Department of Art for nearly 40 years and continued to reside in Wyoming for 60 years. He was also the university's artist in residence for nearly 10 years. Russin maintained several residences, including Centennial, Wyoming; in the foothills of the Snowy Range and Green Valley, Arizona, where he lived during the winter.

Russin was known for his public sculptures, by one account numbering more than 400 worldwide. His works include bronze figurative sculptures. Whereas Russin struck his hammer and chisel to stone, including marble, for abstract expressions.

...
Wikipedia